UEFA Champions League 2025/26: Real Madrid vs Monaco Match Preview, Prediction, Live TV channels & Lineups
Seventh-placed Real Madrid hosts 19th-placed Monaco at the Bernabéu, aiming to secure automatic knockout qualification. The spotlight falls on Kylian Mbappé, who faces his former club as the competition's leading scorer.
Match Facts
Kylian Mbappé enters the match in sensational European form, leading the Champions League scoring charts with 9 goals in just five matches this season.
This is the first European test for interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa following the mid-January departure of Xabi Alonso. He secured his first win with a 2-0 league victory over Levante last weekend.
Real Madrid’s defense is heavily depleted. Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy are all sidelined. Additionally, left-back Álvaro Carreras is suspended.
The Ligue 1 side has struggled recently, coming off a 3-1 domestic loss to Lorient. They rely heavily on Folarin Balogun, who has scored in three consecutive Champions League appearances.
This is the first competitive meeting between the two sides since the 2003/04 quarter-finals, when Monaco famously eliminated Madrid's "Galacticos."
Prediction of AI
AI models favor Real Madrid (75.5%), despite their defensive absences. A draw is rated at 14.5%, while a Monaco upset is placed at 10.0%.
The most probable simulated outcome is a 2-0 or 3-1 victory for the hosts.
Analysts highlight the high probability of "Over 2.5 goals" (61%), noting Madrid’s high-powered attack and Monaco's tendency to concede away from home.
Kick Off Time?
Competition (round): UEFA Champions League (League Phase - MD 7)
Kick-off (GMT): 20:00, Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Stadium, location: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain
How to Watch in the UK and US?
In the UK: The match is broadcast live on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports 8. Subscribers can also stream the action via the discovery+ app.
In the US: The game is available to stream live on Paramount+. Spanish-language coverage is provided by TUDN USA and UniMás.
TV Channel and Live Stream: You can also follow Xscore808 live updates for other countries.
