Real Madrid vs Monaco prediction 20.01.2026 | Champions League

The last couple of weeks have tested patience in the Spanish capital. Defeat in the Supercopa final and a Copa del Rey exit at the round-of-16 stage left the mood flat. Saturday’s league match against Levante was meant to calm things down, though it took a while.

Another scoreless first half had the crowd shifting in their seats before Raúl Asencio and Kylian Mbappé finally broke through after the break.

Under Alonso, Madrid flew out of the blocks in Europe, winning their first three Champions League games. Since then, the rhythm has gone. Two defeats in the last three, including a 2–1 loss to Manchester City at this stadium, still lingers.

Mbappé remains the reference point. Twenty-eight goals in all competitions tells its own story, and he should start alongside Gonzalo García and Vinícius Júnior.

Vinícius, interestingly, is yet to score in this Champions League campaign. At the back, options are thinner. Éder Militão and Trent Alexander-Arnold are still out with muscle injuries, while Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy remain sidelined as well.

Monaco’s recent form feels like a reminder of how quickly things can turn. Late November into early December was encouraging. One defeat in four matches, a league win over PSG, and a European victory against Galatasaray. That version of Les Rouge et Blanc feels distant now.

Three straight league defeats have followed, the latest a 3–1 loss to Lorient. Conceding three goals for the second game in a row extended their run without a clean sheet to five. Not ideal preparation for a trip to Madrid. Still, Sébastien Pocognoli might point to Monaco’s away record for reassurance. Only two defeats in their last eight competitive matches on the road suggests they don’t travel just to survive.

Folarin Balogun leads the scoring charts with three goals and is expected to start, likely alongside Mika Biereth. Ansu Fati is another option if Pocognoli wants something different.

Injuries, however, limit flexibility. Takumi Minamino, Lukas Hradecky, Paul Pogba, Christian Mawissa, and Mohammed Salisu are all unavailable.