Real Madrid restored confidence at the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday, thrashing AS Monaco 6-1 in the UEFA Champions League. The victory erased the sting of a bruising start to 2026 that saw the club stumble in two domestic cups and part ways with Xabi Alonso, the architect of their new era.

Three days earlier, Levante supporters had bombarded Vinícius Júnior with whistles as Madrid faltered in LaLiga. Kylian Mbappé urged fans to blame the whole squad, while interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa promised to turn jeers into applause. At kickoff, the stadium fell silent, but a swift team move saw Madrid open the scoring within five minutes.

Jude Bellingham later reminded the crowd that criticism can motivate, noting the fans’ right to voice opinion. With the win, Real Madrid leap to the top of their group, easing pressure on the interim staff and giving Vinícius Júnior a chance to silence doubters. Next up, a decisive league clash against Barcelona will test whether the roar becomes sustained applause.