MADRID, Spain — This time, the cheers outweighed the jeers.
Real Madrid captivated the Santiago Bernabéu crowd on Tuesday night, delivering a stunning 6-1 victory over AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League. The triumph provided relief from the recent turmoil of 2026, which featured setbacks in two cup competitions and the departure of Xabi Alonso, who was poised to guide the team into a new era.
Just three days earlier, Real faced Levante in LaLiga, where the fans voiced their discontent with deafening whistles directed at the home team, particularly aimed at Vinícius Júnior, highlighting their frustrations with the team’s decline.
– UCL recap: Arsenal and Real Madrid claim convincing victories
– Is the caretaker manager choice sensible for Man United and Real Madrid?
– Hauge leads Bodø/Glimt to Champions League upset over Man City
Conversations leading up to the match revolved around whether Madrid’s beloved Champions League would yield a different outcome.
“If they choose to whistle, they should do so for the entire team,” Kylian Mbappé stated on Monday. “Don’t single out just one player… The fault lies with the team.”
“I value the fans’ perspective at the Bernabéu,” said Álvaro Arbeloa, Alonso’s successor. “We must transform those whistles into applause.”
“The fans invest their time and resources to support us, and they’re entitled to express their feelings,” remarked Jude Bellingham. “While it’s not always beneficial for the team or individuals—trust me, it’s not pleasant—it’s their right to voice their opinions.”
As the match began on Tuesday, an initial awkward silence filled the air. However, unlike the previous match, Vinícius and Bellingham weren’t met with boos on their every touch. It seemed the crowd was reserving their judgment, awaiting an on-pitch response from the players.
Just five minutes into the game, Mbappé gave them a reason to cheer. A beautiful team move, rare for this season, showcased the fluidity that had often been absent from Madrid’s play.
Franco Mastantuono, revitalized under Arbeloa, threaded a pass to Federico Valverde, who, after a quick turn, found Mbappé in space for the opener, marking his tenth Champions League goal this season.
After that initial spark, it became all about Vinícius. Under immense scrutiny following a recent contract renewal standoff and a troubling goal drought of just one in 19 games, he recognized that a solid team performance alone wouldn’t erase the criticism—he needed to shine individually.
With one goal and three assists, he did just that. As Vinícius regained his confidence, the echoes of past whistles faded, and glimpses of his former brilliance returned.
At the 26-minute mark, Arda Güler sent Vinícius through the defense on the left flank, leading to a precise cross for Mbappé’s second.
His performance was already resonating with the crowd, and when an attempted trick failed shortly before halftime, the scattered boos were swiftly drowned out by encouragement. It was an early indicator of the atmosphere that would unfold in the second half. Shortly after halftime, Vinícius brushed past a defender and assisted Mastantuono for the third goal.
Chants of “Vinícius Júnior” began to emerge from a section of the crowd, hints of a burgeoning support. Just four minutes later, Vinícius provided another cross that led to Thilo Kehrer scoring an own goal, marking Vinícius’ third assist of the night, but he remained without a goal himself.
That changed in the 63rd minute, with a stunning solo effort—precisely what Vinícius so desperately needed. Earlier that month in the Spanish Supercopa final, he had delivered a similar remarkable strike, albeit in a loss to Barcelona in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
This goal, however, came at the Bernabéu, his first in over three months. After celebrating with teammates, he made a significant gesture by embracing Arbeloa.
The strained relationship between Vinícius and Alonso had played a key role in the latter’s departure, contributing to Vinícius’ recent decline in form, which had diminished his standing within the squad. Under Arbeloa’s guidance, Vinícius feels valued once more.
“[Vinícius] has been crafting his legacy at Real Madrid for years,” Arbeloa expressed on Monday. “He’s provided us with two Champions League titles and magical nights. I believe he thrives best with the support of the Bernabéu.”
The following day, Arbeloa’s insights proved accurate. There was still time for Bellingham, another player facing scrutiny, to get on the scoresheet, capping off the rout after Monaco had managed a consolation goal.
The night was a complete success, as all three of Madrid’s star players—Mbappé, Vinícius, and Bellingham—rose to the occasion. However, context is crucial: Monaco is currently ninth in Ligue 1 and has suffered seven defeats in their last eight league matches.
While this performance shouldn’t be seen as proof that Arbeloa’s Madrid can compete with Europe’s elite, it was exactly what they needed on Tuesday: to regain the Bernabéu’s support—and they did it in style.