VINíCIUS JR SILENCES BERNABéU WHISTLES WITH THREE ASSISTS AND A GOAL IN 6-1 MONACO ROUT
Vinícius Júnior turned boos into cheers with 3 assists and a goal as Real Madrid thrashed Monaco 6-1 in the UCL.
Real Madrid hammered Monaco 6-1 in the Champions League, and Vinicius Junior stole the show—even after the home crowd started out booing him.
It was a rough start for Vinicius. Every time he touched the ball at the Santiago Bernabéu, you could hear jeers from the stands. The boos weren’t as fierce as they’d been against Levante a few days earlier, but still, the crowd weren’t shy about showing their frustration. Yet as the game went on, everything changed. Vinicius racked up three assists and scored a brilliant goal in the 63rd minute—his first Champions League goal of the season. By then, the boos had faded. When the final whistle blew, the fans were back on his side, and he walked off as man of the match.
Vinicius hasn’t exactly had a dream season. Some fans blamed him for Xabi Alonso being sacked last week. Alonso, a legend for both Madrid and Spain as a player, lasted just eight months as coach before things unravelled. Vinicius had some public spats with him, and word is, he was the main guy in the locker room not backing Alonso.
His goal on Tuesday was pure class. He slipped past a couple of defenders, found the top corner, and then skipped the usual celebration in front of the fans. Instead, he hugged his teammates at midfield and then made a beeline for Alvaro Arbeloa, Madrid’s new coach, to celebrate in his UCL Debut.
Vinicius set up two goals—one for Kylian Mbappé in the 26th minute and another for Franco Mastantuono in the 51st. He also whipped in the cross that forced Monaco defender Thilo Kehrer into an own goal. Not bad for a guy getting booed at kickoff.
Someone in the stands held up a banner: “Vini, we are behind you.” That about summed up the shift in mood.
Mbappé got Madrid going early, scoring in the fifth minute, and hugged Vinicius after both his second goal and after the match. He’s been vocal recently, telling fans not to pin the team’s problems on Vinicius alone. Arbeloa’s backed him, too.
The fans started to come around. When Vinicius missed just wide in the seventh minute, he actually got a round of applause. Even when he misplayed a ball in the 40th minute, the boos were drowned out by cheers.
No one booed club president Florentino Pérez this time, unlike the Levante match.
Mbappé, who used to play for Monaco, seemed to apologise to their fans after scoring. He’s now got 18 Champions League goals for Madrid—more than anyone else in their first 20 games for the club, beating even Cristiano Ronaldo’s early record.
Jude Bellingham, who also got some stick from the crowd on Saturday, rounded off the scoring with Madrid’s sixth goal in the 80th minute.
In stoppage time, Vinicius almost bagged a second on a breakaway.
This win felt like a reset for Madrid. Just a few days before, they’d lost two straight, including a painful Super Cup final against Barcelona in Saudi Arabia and a humiliating Copa del Rey exit to Albacete. That run of bad form got Alonso fired. Now, with Arbeloa at the helm and Vinicius back in form, the mood at the Bernabeu is starting to shift.
TOTTENHAM CONFIRM MANAGER POSITION FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST ATLETICO MADRID
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor will remain in charge for the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid this Tuesday.
Tottenham has put an end to the speculation about Igor Tudor’s future by confirming he will stay on as head coach for their upcoming Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. Sky Sports reports Tudor will lead the pre-match press conference on Tuesday ahead of this crucial fixture.
Pressure on Tudor had been mounting following a rocky start at Tottenham. There were murmurs he might be sacked after a series of disappointing results, but the late 1-1 draw against Liverpool seems to have provided a reprieve. Before that, the assumption was that one more loss, especially away at Anfield, could cost him his job. Confirming Tudor’s role for the Atletico clash signals the club is sticking with him for now, at least through the next big challenge.
That challenge is significant. Spurs are trailing 5-2 on aggregate after the first leg against Atletico, a match that drew sharp criticism for Tottenham’s performance. The game was difficult to watch, not only because of the scoreline but also because of a striking moment when goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was taken off just 17 minutes in, a rare and unsettling decision that highlighted deeper issues.
For Tudor, Tuesday’s match is both a test and an opportunity to demonstrate leadership. The confirmation of his position brings mixed feelings among fans. There’s a recognition that stability is important during such a hectic part of the season, yet lingering doubts remain after some shaky displays.
Fans watched the first leg against Atletico with a sense of disbelief. Conceding five goals and that early goalkeeper substitution raised legitimate questions about the team’s preparation and tactical choices. That substitution felt emblematic of a chaotic night, reflecting larger problems.
The gritty draw with Liverpool, though, offered a glimpse of fighting spirit and earned some credit for resilience, even if the overall form is inconsistent. Moments like that can offer managers breathing room in tough times.
Still, supporters crave clarity and a long-term vision. Tottenham has shifted its direction multiple times in recent years, and the fans want a coherent plan moving forward. Tudor now has a clear chance to reinforce his authority and bring some order against a tough Atletico side.
Even if overcoming the deficit proves elusive, Spurs supporters will be looking for signs of organisation, determination, and a stronger team identity. That might be the most valuable takeaway from the clash.
UCL DRAW 2026 LAST 16: PREMIER LEAGUE GIANTS FACE BRUTAL DRAW IN QUEST FOR EUROPEAN GLORY 2026
The Champions League draw is out! Read the full list of fixtures, including Man City vs Real Madrid and Newcastle’s trip to Barcelona.
Manchester City will go head-to-head with Real Madrid in what’s easily the standout fixture of this season’s Champions League round of 16.
UEFA stuck to the same process as last year’s new format, running the draws for the last 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals all on the same day in Nyon, Switzerland.
There’s still plenty of English interest left in the competition. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle, Tottenham, and Man City all made it through, which pretty much guarantees the Premier League an extra Champions League spot next season thanks to the UEFA coefficient.
With the seeding and pairing rules, each of the 16 teams already knew they’d be facing one of just two possible opponents in the next round.
Liverpool and Tottenham ended up in the same section of the bracket. No surprise, since they finished third and fourth in their groups.
Arsenal, who topped their group, drew Bayern Munich. Manchester City got Sporting Lisbon, and Chelsea lined up against Barcelona.
After Newcastle’s play-off win over Qarabag, they were slotted into their section of the bracket.
Now that the draw’s done, here’s what’s coming up: Chelsea will take on defending champions PSG, and Newcastle will get Barcelona.
Real Madrid against Manchester City is the pick of the bunch, two giants going toe-to-toe.
Liverpool will face Galatasaray, while Tottenham will meet Atletico Madrid.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are set to play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta – a tricky tie either way.
Here’s the full Champions League last 16 draw for 2025/26:
Manchester City vs Real Madrid
Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting
Paris Saint-Germain vs Chelsea
Newcastle vs Barcelona
Galatasaray vs Liverpool
Atletico Madrid vs Tottenham
Atalanta vs Bayern Munich
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal
And for the Europa League quarter-finals:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea vs Galatasaray/Liverpool
Real Madrid/Manchester City vs Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona vs Tottenham/Atletico Madrid
Bodø/Glimt/Sporting vs Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
The Europa League semi-finals shape up like this:
Paris Saint-Germain/Chelsea/Galatasaray/Liverpool vs Real Madrid/Manchester City/Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Newcastle/Barcelona/Tottenham/Atletico Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt/Sporting/Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal
As for the dates, here’s what you need to know:
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18, 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15, 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 & May 5/6, 2026
Final: May 30, 2026, in Budapest
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