Real Madrid Shakes Up Attack After Fan Backlash Ahead of Monaco Clash
Álvaro Arbeloa, stepping in for Xabi Alonso, prepares for his inaugural Champions League match as manager on Tuesday evening, with Real Madrid seeking to advance closer to the knockout rounds.
The Spanish giants, renowned for their European excellence, have suffered two setbacks in the league phase this campaign, falling to Liverpool and Manchester City. Nevertheless, Los Blancos remain positioned within the qualification spots with two matches left to play.
The Santiago Bernabéu faithful expressed their displeasure both before and throughout Sunday's La Liga encounter against Levante, and the subsequent 2–0 triumph did little to persuade supporters that the club is on the correct trajectory.
Arbeloa's tenure may prove brief, particularly should Madrid fail to claim maximum points against a struggling Monaco side.
Below is how the home team might set up for Tuesday evening's fixture.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Monaco (4-2-3-1)
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Monaco (4-2-3-1)
GK: Thibaut Courtois—The Belgian goalkeeper had a quiet afternoon at the weekend, returning to the starting eleven after the disappointing cup exit at Albacete. Courtois was among the experienced players who faced criticism from the home supporters.
RB: Federico Valverde—Valverde also endured the supporters' frustration over the weekend, as he was allegedly among those who struggled to adapt to Alonso's tactical approach. However, he remains deployed in the right-back position under the new coach.
CB: Raúl Asencio—The young defender managed to get on the scoresheet in the Levante match and should retain his starting position given Madrid's current defensive injury concerns.
CB: Dean Huijsen—The summer recruit has dealt with several fitness concerns since his arrival, but Huijsen completed Saturday's match without incident and will maintain his place in Tuesday's lineup.
LB: Fran García—With the suspended Álvaro Carreras unavailable, the inconsistent García will likely be given the nod at left-back.
CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—The French midfielder enjoyed favor under the previous management, featuring in all six league phase encounters under Alonso. He now faces the prospect of playing against his former team.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga—Camavinga previously thrived on the European stage, though recent seasons have proven challenging for the ex-Rennes talent. Nevertheless, he appears the most probable candidate to join Tchouaméni in Madrid's engine room on Tuesday.
RW: Franco Mastantuono—With Rodrygo still unavailable, Arbeloa might opt for Mastantuono instead of persisting with the unsuccessful combination of Gonzalo García alongside Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior.
AM: Jude Bellingham—Bellingham also experienced the Madrid faithful's frustration at the weekend, with the England midfielder enduring a disappointing campaign in terms of offensive contributions.
LW: Vinicius Junior—Despite his excellent Spanish Super Cup performance earlier this year, Vini's rapport with the Madrid supporters has reached a new low. The Brazilian winger, jeered with every touch against Levante, departed the field immediately after the final whistle.
ST: Kylian Mbappé—The French striker was central to Alonso's European strategy, contributing to nine Madrid goals across six league phase matches. He converted a penalty on Saturday after recently recovering from a minor physical issue.
