Valverde net hat-trick as Real Madrid ease through Manchester City 3-0 in Champions League knockout

Real Madrid landed a heavy 3-0 defeat on Manchester City in the Uefa Champions League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match on Wednesday 11 March, 2026 at Santiago Bernabeu in Spain, thanks to a stunning hat-trick from Federico Valverde.

This outcome means Pep Guardiola’s City have a huge rock to flatten when both sides meet again in the second leg of the tie next week in England.

Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos headed into the clash without the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, however, the home side produced a fine performance in the first 45 minutes that led to Valverde’s hat-trick.

In the 20th minute, Madrid goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois’s long pass found Valverde, who netted for the hosts; the Belgian goalie’s pass went over the head of Nico O’Reilly and was finely controlled by the Uruguayan central midfielder, he rounded City goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had rushed out to the edge of his penalty area, and then slid the ball home from a tight angle.

Real Madrid, who had taken control of the game after the opener, found the second in the 27th minute after Valverde made good use of Vinicius Junior’s assist to finish beyond City’s Italian goalie.

The hosts sealed all three (3) points after Valverde bagged his hat-trick and third for Madrid with an assist from Brahim Diaz in the 42nd minute; the Uruguay international was amazing in bringing the ball down in the penalty area and flicked it past Marc Guehi, then shot the ball pass Donnarumma, who charged out to block.

Valverde placed Real Madrid in dreamland with his first career hat-trick.

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