"Federico Valverde scored a sublime first-half hat-trick to give Real Madrid a 3-0 lead over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu. City entered the game as favourites against a Madrid side struggling for form, and Pep Guardiola's men dictated the play in the early stages. Yet Valverde single-handedly turned the tie in Madrid's favour with his first career hat-trick."
"Courtois became just the second goalkeeper to assist two or more goals in a Champions League season, while the Belgian also claimed the outright record for the most assists in the compeititon by a goalkeeper, his ball for Valverde taking his tally to three."
"Valverde, meanwhile, emulated Barcelona legend Lionel Messi in becoming only the second player to score a first-half hat-trick against an English club. Messi achieved the feat against Arsenal in 2010 in a 4-1 win in the second leg of the quarter-finals, with Barca prevailing 6-3 on aggregate."
Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Federico Valverde scoring a remarkable hat-trick in just 22 minutes. Despite City entering as favorites and controlling early play, Valverde's three goals between the 20th and 42nd minutes turned the match decisively in Madrid's favor. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois provided crucial assists, including one for Valverde's opening goal, making history as the second goalkeeper to assist two or more goals in a Champions League season. Valverde's first-half hat-trick also made him only the second player to achieve this feat against an English club, joining Lionel Messi's 2010 performance against Arsenal.
Read at 101GREATGOALS.COM
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