"Valverde completed a quick counter-attack and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with a deft touch to score the opener after 20 minutes. He ran on to a pass from Vinícius Júnior and then fired home a low shot with his weaker left foot seven minutes later to make it 2-0."
"Valverde saved the best for last, taking Brahim Diaz's clever chip and then knocking it over the outstretched leg of Marc Guéhi before volleying past Donnarumma to make it 3-0 three minutes before halftime."
"There was a feeling of uncertainty among Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu before Wednesday's game with City. The Spanish giants have a new and untested coach, recently lost two league games in a row, and last weekend required a last-minute deflection to beat Celta Vigo."
Real Madrid dominated Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie at Santiago Bernabeu. Federico Valverde delivered a stellar performance, scoring three goals in the first half to become the first Uruguayan player to achieve a hat trick in Champions League history. Valverde's first goal came from a quick counter-attack after 20 minutes, his second from a Vinícius Júnior pass seven minutes later, and his third from a Brahim Diaz chip before halftime. Despite Vinícius missing a second-half penalty, Madrid controlled the match throughout. Manchester City offered minimal resistance, leaving Pep Guardiola's side facing an uphill battle in the second leg at Manchester.
Read at ESPN
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]