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Valverde opened the scoring in the 20th minute, before adding to his tally seven minutes later. He completed his treble three minutes before halftime to give Arbeloa a massive win.
Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, center, celebrates after scoring his third goal during a first leg round of 16 Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Real Madrid established a firm advantage over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City with a 3-0 rout of the English side in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Thursday, riding on a first-half hat-trick by Federico Valverde.
Valverde opened the scoring in the 20th minute for Madrid, before adding to his tally seven minutes later. He completed his treble three minutes before halftime to give Alvaro Arbeloa a massive win.
Valverde latched onto a long ball in from Thibaut Courtois before rounding the onrushing Gianluigi Donnarumma and slotting the ball into the back of an empty ne to give the Spanish Capital City side the lead.
Vinicius found Valverde inside the box after a run in from the left, as the Uruguayan smashed the ball into the net with his left foot to give Madrid a two-goal cushion.
Valverde completed a sublime hattrick with a demonstration of the South American flair as he beat Marc Guehi with a quality first touch before dispatching the ball past the Italian shot-stopper to put the result beyond any doubt.
Vinicius Junior earned a penalty as he was fouled by Donnarumma in the second period of the game, only to step up and miss it with the City keeper who dives to his left and thwarts the Brazilian’s attempt.
Elsewhere, defending Champions PSG romped to a 5-2 win over Chelsea at the Parc des Princes, while Real Madrid established a firm advantage over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City with a 3-0 rout of the English side riding on a first-half hat-trick by Federico Valverde.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia struck twice after coming off the bench for PSG, while Vitinha, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola added a goal each to help Luis Enrique’s men register a thumping win over the London giants, who had consolation strikes form Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandes.
March 12, 2026, 07:58 IST
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