Real Madrid delivered a statement performance, defeating Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu. Federico Valverde was the undisputed star of the match, scoring a first-half hat-trick.
Álvaro Arbeloa's team showed great solidity in all areas of the game. Thibaut Courtois made an exceptional assist for Valverde's opening goal and then made several important saves. In defense, Antonio Rüdiger dominated his duel with Erling Haaland.
Valverde opened the scoring in the 20th minute, following a long pass from Courtois. He then doubled the lead seven minutes later, assisted by Vinicius Jr. The Uruguayan midfielder completed his hat-trick in the 42nd minute with a superb volley. He was named Player of the Match by UEFA.
In the second half, Vinicius Jr won a penalty, but his attempt was saved by Donnarumma. Despite the missed penalty, Real Madrid maintains a comfortable lead before the return match in Manchester.
The second leg will be played at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, March 17. The winner of this match will face the winner of the match between Bayern Munich and Atalanta in the quarter-finals.
After the match, Valverde said he was experiencing the best night of his career. He thanked his teammates and the coaching staff for their confidence and support. Kylian Mbappé, who was absent due to injury, was seen celebrating Valverde's third goal from the stands.
This victory gives Real Madrid a serious option on qualifying for the quarter-finals.
