Valverde’s three goals highlight Madrid’s commanding victory over Man City.
MADRID — Federico Valverde netted an impressive first-half hat trick as Real Madrid overwhelmed Manchester City with a 3-0 victory in their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 first leg at Santiago Bernabéu.
The Uruguayan midfielder scored three times within 22 minutes, delivering a significant win for Álvaro Arbeloa in his role as Madrid head coach and setting the Spanish club on a path to advance to the quarter-finals ahead of the second leg next week at the Etihad Stadium.
Arbeloa’s night could have been even more remarkable had Vinícius Júnior not missed the opportunity to add a fourth goal, with his second-half penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
City had chances to get back into the match, but Thibaut Courtois made a crucial point-blank save to deny Nico O’Reilly.
In the absence of key players such as Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Rodrygo, Courtois contributed significantly, but it was Valverde who stood out as the key player for both teams.
His first goal, which came against the run of play, was set up by a long ball from Courtois, while his second was a composed finish from the left side of the penalty area. His third showcased a world-class touch to maneuver the ball around Marc Guéhi, marking another memorable Champions League evening for Real Madrid. — Rob Dawson
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Valverde shines in the absence of Mbappé
With both Mbappé and Bellingham sidelined due to injuries, Madrid required someone to rise to the occasion and provide a standout performance against City. Specifically, they needed someone to find the back of the net.
Before the match, Vinícius appeared to be the most likely candidate, having been Madrid’s most reliable goal threat in the Champions League knockout stages over the past five years. Vinícius performed adequately, winning a penalty in the second half but failing to convert it. However, he was not the standout performer.
Enter Valverde, who had previously scored only three Champions League goals in his career before this match. He now has six. What Valverde accomplished in the first half was extraordinary, scoring three goals that any player, including Mbappé or any elite forward, would have been proud of.
The first goal, assisted by Courtois’ long clearance, demonstrated his determination to outpace O’Reilly and maintain composure to beat Donnarumma. The second saw him inexplicably positioned as a center forward, making a clever run and finishing effectively. The third was the highlight, featuring a brilliant touch to lift the ball over Guéhi, completing the hat trick.
Valverde’s season has been unusual. Earlier in the campaign, he was utilized as an emergency right back by then-coach Alonso, expressing his dissatisfaction with the role and facing criticism for appearing unenthusiastic during warm-ups in a match against Kairat Almaty.
He was among the senior players who reportedly were not pleased with Alonso’s management and received some boos from the Bernabéu crowd in January as fans expressed their discontent with the coach’s departure.
However, Arbeloa has consistently praised Valverde, describing him as “everything a Real Madrid player should be” last week after he scored a last-minute winner against Celta Vigo, reverting him to his preferred central midfield position.
In this match against City, Arbeloa deployed Valverde as an attacking right winger, a position where he had previously excelled under former Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, resulting in one of the season’s standout performances.
“I always try to adapt to the coach’s ideas,” Valverde stated on Tuesday. “I’ve played in many positions, not always in midfield, but I aim to contribute and give my best.” In this instance, he certainly delivered. — Alex Kirkland
City’s crucial period begins with a disastrous start
Pep Guardiola often emphasizes that the most important match is the next one, but the upcoming month will undoubtedly shape City’s season.
Two matches against Real Madrid, another two against Arsenal — one in the Carabao Cup final and one in the Premier League — along with an FA Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool will determine their success this season. This challenging stretch has now commenced in the worst possible manner.
City arrived in Madrid with confidence against a Real Madrid side struggling for form and missing key players. They depart with their wounds to tend. Guardiola must quickly rally his players, starting with the upcoming trip to West Ham United on Saturday, or their season could spiral out of control.
A few more dropped points in the league, a lackluster performance against Real Madrid at the Etihad next week, and a defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final could leave them with little to fight for after the international break.
For now, they remain in contention for four trophies, but the prospect of a potential quadruple is precariously balanced. — Dawson
What does this mean for Arbeloa and Madrid?
A few days prior to this match, a source informed ESPN that Arbeloa would require “a miracle” to retain his position at Madrid next season. Alternatively, winning the Champions League, which considering Madrid’s performance this season, would amount to the same outcome.
While they have yet to secure the Champions League title, this result undoubtedly represents the most significant outcome and defining performance of Arbeloa’s brief tenure thus far, serving as the first match he can cite as evidence of progress and a team being developed with a coherent strategy.
Alonso’s Madrid suffered a 2-1 defeat to City here in December, and although they were not completely outmatched, they were outplayed by Guardiola’s squad. However, on Wednesday, after a slow start, they were clearly the superior side, even if City underperformed. Arbeloa will argue that this is how his Madrid must play: with aggression and intensity, going direct when necessary, with homegrown talents playing a vital role.
Thiago Pitarch, 18, impressed during his first Champions League start, contributing for 76 minutes until he lost possession in a dangerous area, prompting Courtois to make a trademark stunning save. Even after his substitution, he was replaced by another youth product, the 21-year-old Manuel Ángel. Madrid’s players quickly rallied around Pitarch following that mistake. Arbeloa is familiar with the academy and has demonstrated that his praise for Madrid’s talent pipeline is genuine.
Despite their challenges this season, Madrid currently sits second in LaLiga, four points behind the leaders, and they have positioned themselves strongly to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals, where they would likely face Bayern Munich.
Is Madrid likely to eliminate Bayern? All indications this season suggest otherwise. Additionally, they have crucial matches ahead in LaLiga, including the derby against Atlético Madrid on March 22. However, after an inconsistent two months, Arbeloa now has a convincing, high-profile victory to highlight, against a top-tier opponent, providing his players and fans with something to believe in. — Kirkland
Guardiola’s “surprise” lineup fails to deliver
Arbeloa mentioned he anticipated a surprise from Guardiola, and he was correct. Few traveling City supporters would have expected starts for Abdukodir Khusanov, Jérémy Doku, and Savinho — especially after all three began in a heavily-rotated team at Newcastle United on Saturday.
The strategy did not succeed. Semenyo and Savinho were largely ineffective in the first half as Valverde dominated, leading to Guardiola making changes at halftime. Savinho was replaced by Tijjani Reijnders, and Semenyo was shifted to the left, where he was expected to start initially.
City’s issues were not solely due to Guardiola’s selection. They maintained control for the first 20 minutes until a long clearance caught O’Reilly off guard, allowing Valverde to score his first.
Another long ball early in the second half resulted in Vini Jr. being fouled by Donnarumma, leading to Real Madrid’s penalty, which the Italian redeemed himself by saving. It was that kind of night for City defensively. — Dawson
