The Round 7 match of the group stage of the 2025/26 Champions League between Real Madrid (Spain) and Monaco (France) will take place on 20 January at Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Real Madrid vs Monaco: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid recently changed their head coach, and the club now continues the fight for direct qualification to the round of 16 under Álvaro Arbeloa. In the last Champions League round, still with Xabi Alonso in charge, the team lost at home to Manchester City (1:2), so after a run of three wins Real Madrid suffered two defeats in its last three Champions League matches. As a result, the club slipped to 7th place in the table. In case of another dropped point there is a significant risk of falling into the playoff zone, since the home team already leads two clubs only on goal difference, and a number of rivals are pressing from below. It is worth noting that Real Madrid have lost only 1 of their last 18 UEFA matches against French clubs (13 wins, 4 draws).
- At least three goals were scored in 6 of Real Madrid's last 8 Champions League matches.
- The club's uncompromising run in this competition stretches to 22 matches.
- The team conceded in 10 of its last 12 Champions League matches.
Potential Real Madrid Lineup (4-3-3)
Thibaut Courtois – Raul Asensio, Dean Huijsen, Federico Valverde, Fran Garcia – Arda Guler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham – Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé.
Starting defender Alvaro Carreras is suspended. Midfielder Brahim Díaz is unavailable due to participation in the Africa Cup of Nations. Due to injuries, defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao, as well as goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, will miss the match.
Monaco
Monaco picked up a very important victory over Galatasaray (1:0) in the last Champions League round. The club has won only 2 of 6 matches this season in the competition, but its unbeaten run in the Champions League has reached 5 matches. It is also worth noting that the team kept a clean sheet in 3 of its last 4 matches in this tournament. With 9 points, Monaco sits in 19th place in the overall table. To stay in the playoff zone the club cannot afford two defeats in the remaining games. Theoretically Monaco can still move into the top eight, but for that it needs to finish without any slip-ups, and even then it will have to rely on rivals' results.
- The team has not won in 5 of its last 6 away Champions League matches (2 draws, 3 defeats).
- At least three goals were scored in 8 of Monaco's last 10 away matches in this competition.
- Monaco conceded in 5 of its last 6 away Champions League matches.
Potential Monaco Lineup (4-4-2)
Philipp Köhn – Caio Henrique, Tilo Kehrer, Eric Dier, Vanderson – Jordan Teze, Denis Zakaria, Aleksandr Golovin, Magn Akliush – Mika Biereth, Folarin Balogun.
Out through injury are goalkeeper Lukasz Gradecki, midfielders Paul Pogba and Takumi Minamino, defenders Mohammed Salisu and Kristian Mavissa. Midfielders Krepin Diatta and Lamine Kamara are still unavailable due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Referee
Espen Eskos (Norway)
Matches – 6 (International matches, 2025/26);
Yellow/Red Cards Shown (Including Second Yellows) – 21;
Average Yellow/Red Cards Per Match – 3.5;
Red Cards Shown – 0;
Fouls Per Match On Average – 22;
Penalties – 33%.
Real Madrid vs Monaco: Match Prediction
Real Madrid began their Champions League campaign with three straight wins, but the team then dropped form and took only three points from the last three rounds. The downturn is largely linked to an increase in defensive errors. The club conceded a total of six goals in its last three Champions League matches, whereas in the previous three-match stretch it had allowed just one goal. The home side managed to keep a clean sheet in only 2 of their last 12 matches in this competition. In attack Real Madrid have been more effective: in their previous seven Champions League games they scored in every match except the trip to Liverpool (0:1). The club's home scoring run in this tournament stretches to 39 matches, and in 13 of the last 14 matches at Santiago Bernabeu both teams have scored.
Monaco, by contrast, have tightened up defensively and kept a clean sheet in 3 of their last 4 Champions League matches. However, it is important to note that there were no opponents of Real Madrid's level in that stretch. The visitors also traditionally find it difficult away from home: in their last six Champions League away games the team failed to keep a clean sheet against everyone except Bodø/Glimt (1:0). In attacking terms, Monaco scored in 9 of their last 11 away matches in this competition. Including home matches, the club failed to score in only one of their last seven Champions League games.
Prediction: Both teams to score
