Vinicius Shines: Real Madrid vs Monaco Recap

In a sport as cyclothymic as football, victories are an almost infallible medicine when it comes to reducing any discomfort. Even the most stubborn anger is appeased with targets. Real Madrid registered six against a very tame Monaco that fell victim to its softness and the courageous spirit with which Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad went to a fight in which Vinicius was, with the permission of the big-hitting Mbappé, the great protagonist.

The Fluminense overflowed, assisted, scored and did not leave any gesture for controversy, unlike Bellingham, who also scored but who drew a celebration that will raise dust in response to those who accuse him of enjoying the Madrid night more than necessary. There is no victory devoid of noise for Real Madrid, although this time the decibels lowered.

Arbeloa’s first European eleven offered disturbing news to two starters, Valverde and Camavinga. The Uruguayan continued as a right back, a position for which he was not born but in which he shines and is needed. The Frenchman returned to the left back, an invention of Ancelotti that does not seduce the Cabinda player either but which his new coach seems to have taken a liking to. The ‘6’ place in the midfield was occupied by Arda Güler, whose good performance against Levante gave him the lead. It is not the ideal role for the Turk, but it is the best there is to perform it. Mastantuono also appeared alongside Mbappé and Vinicius up front. A lineup, conditioned by losses, that must have pleased the noble zone of the Bernabéu, with little youth and abundant commitments from the board.

None as strong as that of Mbappé, who exploded at the age of 17 at Monaco but took seven years to land at Real Madrid. The ’10’, who has made the team that catapulted him his favorite victim, took five minutes to apply the former’s law with a whip to the net that culminated an association between Mastantuono and Valverde. Only Montpellier has scored so many goals, thirteen.

The target rewarded an expansive start by Arbeloa’s team, which immediately touched the second with a shot from Vinicius that narrowly missed. He was accompanied by a loud applause that served as a form of reconciliation after the whistle given to the ‘7’ against Levante. The warrior ardor of Saturday gave way to a pacifying spirit this Tuesday at the Bernabéu.

Despite this, Monaco did not give up. Ansu Fati, who was whistled by Real Madrid fans, missed a good chance to equalize. The injuries diminished the nuclear threat that he aimed to be, but in Chamartín it is not forgotten that Barça believed they saw Messi’s heir in him.

Mbappé equals another Cristiano record

Vinicius responded to that blank shot, serving the second on a plate to Mbappé. The Brazilian’s acceleration was triggered by an exquisite work from Camavinga on the boundary and a filtered pass from Arda Güler. Thread and needle. Mbappé’s second goal, by the way, raised his record in this first phase of the Champions League to eleven, thereby equaling the record in a group stage that Cristiano Ronaldo established in the 2015-16 season.

Monaco tried to respond again and was able to close the gap with a shot from Teze that shook the crossbar of Courtois’ goal. If the shot was lowered a few centimeters, it would have been a flag goal. Akliouche also tried with an acrobatic shot that Courtois mastered with difficulty. Even against a rival without authority, Real Madrid granted dangerous licenses.

The passage through the dugout left Asencio in the locker room, with a blow to the shin, and sent Ceballos onto the field, who made a gross error in the action that ended with Monaco’s goal of honor, which caused Tchouaméni to be relocated as an orthopedic central defender again. With the defense full of sick people and patients in the process of recovery, Arbeloa’s defense ended up populated with midfielders.

It didn’t matter because Real Madrid was going in favor of the current and scored shortly after the start of the second half. Vinicius assisted for the second time and impaled Mastantuono. The Bernabéu chanted from one to the other. Chants of support for Vinicius and Franco. The ‘7’ even gave them more wood. He was chasing his third assist of the night, this time with Arda Güler as the recipient, but the goal ended up being scored by Kehrer through his own goal. He still had to round off the night with his first goal at the Bernabéu 108 days after the double he registered against Villarreal at the beginning of October. After the whistles came the dancing, as Arbeloa wanted. We have to see if it lasts.