The Santiago Bernabéu once again voiced its discontent with whistles toward Real Madrid players
The Spanish side’s supporters offered timid applause to Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad during the warm-up ahead of the match against Monaco.
The scene at the Santiago Bernabéu this Tuesday night was a stark, almost surreal contrast to the toxic atmosphere witnessed just days ago. On this occasion, there were no thunderous whistles or immediate outbursts of anger. Instead, the air surrounding the stadium’s gates was thick with a sense of "waiting"—a silent, unwritten pact between the fans and a squad currently under the microscope. The ghost of the Levante disaster still lingered, but for this European night, the Madridistas chose to lower their guard and grant an overwhelming, albeit temporary, respite.
The contrast was immediate. During the recent La Liga clash, the opposition to the team's lackluster image and inconsistent season had translated into some of the most powerful "pitadas" (whistling) ever recorded in the "White Colosseum." However, seventy-two hours later, the script changed. It was as if the stadium had decided to put the internal conflict on pause, recognizing that the UEFA Champions League is a territory where Real Madrid cannot afford to be divided.
The Warm-up: A Barometer of Peace
The warm-up, usually a reliable barometer of the crowd's mood, offered the first signs of this detente. At 8:30 PM, as the players emerged from the tunnel under the gaze of high-definition cameras, they were met not with hostility, but with an initial burst of applause that soon grew into a generalized show of support. It was a clear gesture of distension.
While some whistles were audible, they were anecdotal. Most originated from isolated local sectors or, more noticeably, from the traveling AS Monaco supporters. The general response from the home crowd was one of encouragement:
- The Corners: The applause began in the sections between the Fondo Sur and the Lateral Oeste.
- The Player Response: Sensing the change in tide, the players responded by raising their hands in a gesture of gratitude, acknowledging the olive branch extended by the stands.
The Lineup Test: Courtois, Huijsen, and the Stars
The moment of truth arrived when the stadium announcer began reading the starting XI. Name by name, the megaphone echoed through the modern acoustics of the renovated Bernabéu. Thibaut Courtois, Fede Valverde, and the young Dean Huijsen were welcomed with warm applause, with no trace of the "bronca" (scolding) from the previous weekend. The stadium music played its part, filling the gaps and preventing any lingering tension from bubbling to the surface.
There were, however, minor exceptions. Jude Bellingham heard a few isolated whistles, likely due to the high expectations placed on his 2026 performance. Vinícius Júnior received a noticeably "tepid" reaction—not a roar of approval, but certainly not the aggressive reproach he endured days ago. Notably, manager Álvaro Arbeloa passed through the evening largely ignored, which, given the recent rumors of his dismissal, constitutes a minor victory for the Spanish coach.
A Parenthesis After the Storm
This is how the Bernabéu breathed on this Champions League night: with the prudence required by its memory of recent failures, but also with a desperate desire to believe in its team again. This is not a definitive pardon or an act of forgetting; it is a parenthesis.
The fans have chosen to support their team as they fight for a spot in the UCL Top 8, but they remain vigilant. It is a relative placidity that makes one thing clear: the Madridistas are still judging, but for now, they have chosen to do so in silence.
