At the Santiago Bernabéu on 20 January 2026, Real Madrid welcome AS Monaco in a Champions League fixture that carries clear importance for the hosts. Carlo Ancelotti’s successor, Álvaro Arbeloa, has steadied the ship domestically after a difficult start, but European qualification for the top eight is still not mathematically secured. That context gives this match added weight, especially given Real Madrid’s traditionally strong home performances.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score - Yes
BTTS – Yes stands out as a logical angle. Real Madrid should score at home as usual, but their defensive stability is still a work in progress under the new coach. Monaco, despite poor domestic form, have shown in Europe that they can find goals on their travels, especially against teams willing to push forward.
Real Madrid Strong at Home, Still Adjusting
Under Arbeloa, Real Madrid are still searching for balance between control and attacking expression. The win over Levante offered encouragement, but it did not erase defensive question marks that have surfaced in recent weeks. Madrid’s home games tend to be proactive, with sustained pressure and territorial dominance, which naturally increases goal potential at both ends if concentration drops.
Monaco Struggling Domestically, Competitive in Europe
Monaco’s current Ligue 1 form is worrying. The 1-3 defeat to Lorient extended a four-match losing streak and dropped them to ninth place in the standings. In the Champions League, however, their profile has been different. They have lost just once in six matches, although that defeat was a heavy 4-1 away loss to Club Brugge. Their other away outings came against more modest opposition, where they showed an ability to stay competitive and score.
