Mastantuono Answers Critics as Real Madrid Crush Monaco 6-1
Franco Mastantuono delivered his clearest response yet to early criticism as Real Madrid swept aside Monaco 6-1 in the Champions League, with the Argentine teenager scoring in a dominant performance at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 18 year old capped a fluid Madrid display with a well taken goal, helping a pressured side produce its most convincing European showing of the season. The result eased tension around the stadium and offered a glimpse of why Madrid moved quickly to secure him from River Plate.
Mastantuono’s night carried extra significance given the scrutiny that has followed his arrival in Spain. Touted by some as a future superstar and dismissed by others as a mistake signing, the midfielder has experienced the extremes of expectation in his first months at the club. Against Monaco, he looked composed, confident, and fully integrated into Madrid’s attacking rhythm.
The performance comes at a crucial moment in Madrid’s campaign. Recent domestic struggles and the fallout from Xabi Alonso’s dismissal had left the squad under pressure to respond. A comprehensive Champions League win not only stabilised their European position but also restored belief between the team and the Bernabeu crowd.
From the opening minutes, the atmosphere reflected urgency rather than anxiety. Madrid pressed high, moved the ball quickly through midfield, and involved Mastantuono early in the buildup. Jude Bellingham operated between the lines, while the wide players stretched Monaco’s back line, creating space centrally.
Key moments arrived quickly as Monaco struggled to cope with Madrid’s tempo. Early chances forced saves and hurried clearances, while Monaco’s defensive shape repeatedly collapsed under sustained pressure. Any hope of resistance faded as Madrid converted control into goals.
Mastantuono’s strike arrived as part of that momentum. Finding space on the edge of the area, he finished decisively to underline Madrid’s superiority and mark his most important contribution since joining the club. The goal reflected confidence rather than desperation, a sign of growing comfort at this level.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Madrid managing the game intelligently while continuing to threaten. Tactical adjustments brought fresh legs and maintained intensity, preventing Monaco from building any sustained response.
Late in the match, Madrid added further goals, turning dominance into a statement result. The final stages were played in front of a relaxed crowd, with mistakes punished and every forward movement carrying menace.
Beyond the scoreline, the night felt like a turning point. Mastantuono later stressed that adapting to life far from family had taken time, but his determination to improve never wavered. He also publicly backed Bellingham, highlighting the midfielder’s work ethic amid recent criticism.
For Real Madrid, the win resets the narrative. For Mastantuono, it marks the first chapter of what the club hopes will be a long and influential career in white.