OPEN THREAD | FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Madrid, Feb. 24 — With a pivotal Champions League date against Benfica looming tomorrow, tension inside the Real Madrid community is palpable. A candid rallying cry circulated across club-centric channels Monday evening: “WE BETTER NOT LOSE THIS BENFICA MATCH … let’s not lose this game.” The message, posted in the daily discussion space known as The Daily Merengue, has become an informal barometer of supporter nerves ahead of the last-16 second leg.

The forum, self-described as “a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football,” concedes an “overt RMCF bias,” a slant its moderators wear almost as a badge of honor. Shout-outs were issued to the volunteer team—Valyrian Steel, Ezek XI, KungFuZizou, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, and Juninho—whose oversight keeps the discourse alive around the clock.

Monday’s thread also carried a lighter metric for tracking form: “Each time Vinicius plays well, Arbeloa’s Life XP increases by 10%,” one contributor quipped, underscoring how the Brazilian’s flashes of brilliance have become a morale multiplier for fans who still recall the Spaniard’s glory days on the Bernabéu flank.

Hope was directed toward the women’s side as well. After recent heavy defeats to Barcelona in both the men’s and women’s fixtures, supporters urged the femenino squad to “do us proud” in upcoming engagements, signaling a growing appetite for success across all sections of the club.

Away from the pitch, Kylian Mbappé secured a notable victory in court. The forward’s prolonged legal tussle with former employer Paris Saint-Germain over unpaid bonuses—reportedly exceeding €60 million—has concluded in his favor. While Madrid stumbled on the field, Mbappé’s camp hailed the ruling as closure on a saga that, according to sources close to the player, had become a “major mental detractor.” The decision is expected to free the Frenchman’s focus for the decisive stretch of the season.

In a footnote that quickly spiraled into its own subplot, Dean—no surname offered—landed in hot water on Chinese social media, though specifics of the incident remain scant.

As Tuesday night approaches, the message from Madrid’s digital terraces is simple: deliver against Benfica, and the rest can wait.

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