Real Madrid will take on AS Monaco at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday evening in a UEFA Champions League group stage match.
These two teams have met only twice in the competition, with their last encounter in 2004 when Monaco eliminated the Spanish team in the quarter-finals.
Real Madrid aims to avoid another upset as they seek a position in the tournament’s top eight. Although Monaco is lower in the standings, only three points separate the teams.
Real Madrid vs Monaco – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 20th January 2026
- Kick-off: 8pm BST
- Venue: Estadio Bernabéu, Madrid
- Last meeting: AS Monaco 3-1 Real Madrid, Champions League, 6th April 2004
Real Madrid team news
Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa is dealing with several injuries as Real Madrid faces challenges. Eder Militao is out with a hamstring injury, and Antonio Rudiger is uncertain after a knee injury in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atlético Madrid.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh injury) is also unavailable, and Ferland Mendy is still sidelined due to a persistent calf issue. Brahim Diaz is not yet back following the Africa Cup of Nations, and Alvaro Carreras is suspended after accumulating yellow cards.
On a positive note, Kylian Mbappé returned to action against Levante, scoring a penalty in Real Madrid’s 2-0 La Liga win last Saturday. Despite concerns about his knee, he remains key to Arbeloa’s attack alongside Vinícius Jr.
Midfielders Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Jude Bellingham are expected to play significant roles, supporting Mbappé in attack.
Monaco team news
Coach Sébastien Pocognoli will be without some key players. Paul Pogba is out with a calf injury. Lamine Camara and Krépin Diatta, both participating in the Africa Cup of Nations, will not play, and Christian Mawissa (hamstring), Mohammed Salisu (knee), and Takumi Minamino (knee) are also unavailable. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is recovering from a knee injury, opening the door for Philipp Koehn to step in.
Folarin Balogun, Monaco’s top scorer this season, is expected to lead the attack despite some injury concerns. He has scored three goals in the Champions League, playing a vital role in Monaco’s European campaign.
Form
Real Madrid
Arbeloa’s tenure began with a disappointing 3-2 loss to Albacete in the Copa del Rey, which drew criticism from supporters. However, he rebounded with a convincing 2-0 victory over Levante in La Liga, boosting team morale. Currently, Real Madrid is seventh in the Champions League with 12 points from six matches, having won four and lost two.
Monaco
Monaco’s season has faced troubles, with seven losses in their last eight Ligue 1 games, currently placing them ninth with 23 points from 18 matches. However, their European performance is better, having earned nine points in the Champions League.
Predicted lineups
: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Garcia; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Monaco: Koehn; Vanderson, Kehrer, Dier, Henrique; Akliouche, Teze, Zakaria, Golovin; Balogun, Biereth
How to watch Real Madrid vs Monaco?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports 8. Highlights will be available on YouTube shortly after the match.
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