Alvaro Arbeloa takes the Champions League reins as Madrid target a top-eight security blanket | OneFootball

Real Madrid return to Champions League action on Tuesday, looking to build momentum under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa when they host Monaco.

The fixture comes with added importance as Madrid look to stabilise their position in the league phase and avoid being dragged into the play-off places.

Arbeloa secured his first win at the weekend with a controlled 2-0 La Liga victory over Levante, easing the tension that had surrounded the club following recent setbacks.

That result followed a turbulent period, which included a shock Copa del Rey exit and growing unrest among supporters.

The win offered signs of calm and control, qualities Madrid will hope to carry into their first European night under Arbeloa.

Madrid are in the top eight of the Champions League table, a position that would secure automatic qualification for the last 16.

Their margin for error remains slim, with several sides close behind and only two matches left in the league phase.

Home form offers encouragement, with Madrid winning their last three games at the Bernabeu Stadium in all competitions.

A strong showing on Tuesday would go a long way towards restoring confidence and clarity after an uneven European campaign.

Monaco visit Madrid still very much in the hunt, even if their form has been difficult to read.

They are outside the automatic qualification places but remain within touching distance of the play-off positions.

Their Champions League campaign has been steadier than their domestic form suggests.

Monaco have lost just once in Europe and are unbeaten in their last five Champions League matches.

That run has kept them alive despite struggles in Ligue 1, where inconsistency has become a defining issue.

A 3-1 home defeat to Lorient on Friday underlined those problems and raised fresh questions about their reliability.

Sebastian Pocognoli’s side have won and lost in equal measure in recent weeks, making them hard to predict.

However, European nights have often drawn a more focused and disciplined Monaco performance.

They will also take confidence from their historical success against Madrid, having eliminated them from the competition in 2004.

Madrid know nothing can be taken for granted at this stage of the competition.

Another win would strengthen their grip on a top-eight finish and further validate Arbeloa’s early impact.

Dropped points would reopen doubts and increase pressure heading into the final round of fixtures.