Real Madrid will host French side Monaco tonight at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, in a crucial encounter in the seventh round of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
The game marks the first European appearance for Real Madrid’s new head coach, Álvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed to succeed Xabi Alonso following the 3–2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.
The Spanish giants are currently enduring a difficult spell, having been eliminated from the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey by Albacete.
Despite a 2–0 league win over Levante, the team faced whistles of disapproval from their own supporters.
Real Madrid sit seventh in the Champions League league-phase standings with 12 points, while Monaco occupy the bottom position with nine points, making tonight’s fixture a key opportunity for Los Blancos to restore continental balance and apply pressure on their rivals.
The only previous meeting between the two sides in UEFA competitions came in the quarter-finals of the 2003/2004 Champions League.
Real Madrid won the first leg 4–2 at home, but Monaco claimed a 3–1 victory in the return leg to qualify for the semi-finals on away goals.
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