Madrid: Federico Valverde’s remarkable first-half hat-trick propelled Real Madrid to a stunning 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League last 16 first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Real Madrid, despite missing several key players including Kylian Mbappe, delivered a dominant performance that left Pep Guardiola’s side shell-shocked. Valverde, the Uruguayan midfielder, scored all three goals within a 22-minute span, dismantling City’s defenses and giving Los Blancos a significant advantage ahead of the second leg in Manchester next Tuesday.
The match could have seen an even larger margin, as Vinicius Junior missed a penalty in the second half. Despite their record as 15-time winners, Real Madrid’s inconsistent form this season gave little indication of such a commanding result against a team that had triumphed over them in the league phase and had bolstered its squad since.
Real Madrid’s coach, Alvaro Arbeloa, took a gamble by starting 18-year-old midfielder Thiago Pitarch, which paid off handsomely. Arbeloa anticipated an aggressive approach from Guardiola, who fielded an attacking lineup, hoping to exploit Madrid’s perceived weaknesses this season. Yet, it was Madrid who seized control, surprising the Premier League visitors with a masterful display.
City’s manager, Guardiola, opted for a strategy with only two central midfielders, leaving Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki on the bench, while Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi made their Champions League debuts. Although City initially appeared to adapt well, Madrid quickly shifted the momentum.
Madrid’s first goal came against the run of play after a long ball from Thibaut Courtois found Valverde, who skillfully navigated past City’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to score. Valverde struck again shortly after, capitalizing on a pass from Vinicius Junior, and later completed his hat-trick with a brilliant volley following a deft flick over Guehi.
The victory marked a turnaround for Valverde, who had been primarily playing as a right-back earlier in the season. His recent performances, including a last-minute winner against Celta Vigo, seem to have rejuvenated the team’s spirit.
Real Madrid maintained their dominance after halftime, with Brahim Diaz nearly adding a fourth goal. Despite Vinicius Junior’s missed penalty, Madrid’s defense, particularly Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen, effectively neutralized City’s top scorer, Erling Haaland. City’s best chance fell to Nico O’Reilly, but Courtois’s exceptional save preserved Madrid’s clean sheet and their significant lead.