Real Madrid 3-0 Man City: Valverde runs the show as City crumble in Madrid | OneFootball

Federico Valverde stole the limelight at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, scoring each of Real Madrid’s three goals as they ran riot against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16.

The Real Madrid captain ran the show in the Spanish capital, netting his first Champions League goal in almost two years before another two equally mesmerising strikes completed his hat-trick before the break.

Los Blancos have one foot firmly in the quarter-finals ahead of next week’s second leg at the Etihad Stadium.

As it happened

Manchester City started brightly at the Bernabéu, registering the first shot on target through Antoine Semenyo although it was saved with ease by Thibaut Courtois.

And it would prove to be a rare first-half chance for Pep Guardiola’s men, who swiftly saw their overly-attacking lineup exploited by a rampant Real Madrid side baying for blood.

Vinicius Jr’s teasing delivery for Brahim Díaz didn’t come to anything as the Spaniard called Gianluigi Donnarumma into action, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s resulting corner failing to threaten the Italian shotstopper.

But for all of the attacking firepower that Real Madrid have in their arsenal, it was captain Fede Valverde who opened the scoring with 20 minutes played. The Uruguayan latched onto Courtois’ long ball forward, knocking past Nico O’Reilly and then rounding Donnarumma to slot home into an open goal.

It was an impressive finish, there’s no doubting that. Yet it would prove to be just the start of Valverde’s exploits, as the Montevideo native soon bagged his second of the night with a stunning left-footed finish across the face of goal after Vinicius Jr’s deflected ball into a crowded box.

This was quickly becoming a test of City’s resolve rather than a legitimate contest, and the pre-match favourites crumbled even further just before the break when – you guessed it – Valverde rifled home his most audacious finish of the night.

Brahim Díaz’s chipped ball into the box allowed the 27-year-old captain to flick over the head of Marc Guéhi then volley a fierce effort past Donnarumma; the television cameras soon panned to an open-mouthed Jude Bellingham simply in awe of what he had just witnessed from the stands.

It forced Guardiola to change his hand, adding a touch of defensive stability when play resumed for the second half in the form of Tijjani Reijnders. But still, Real Madrid’s dominance continued and Brahim Díaz called Donnarumma into work once more after dancing past the outstretched leg of Guéhi inside the box.

Calamitous defending almost handed Real Madrid their fourth of the night when Vini Jr embarked on a blistering run from within his own half, outpacing Abdukodir Khusanov along the way before being hacked to the ground by Donnarumma and earning a penalty. A disappointingly tame effort from the Brazilian was saved with ease, though.

Still, it could have got worse for the visitors. Vinicius Jr continued to pose a threat from the left flank, calling the Italian goalkeeper into action and then sending a curling effort skipping just wide of the far post either side of a thunderous Arda Güler strike that whizzed wide of the target.

Manchester City could have reduced the deficit late on when Güler switched off, allowing Semenyo to whip a ball across the face of goal that would have been tucked home by Erling Haaland had it not been for a crucial intervention from Antonio Rüdiger.

And while so much has been made of City’s woeful defending throughout this match, Real Madrid were almost left shellshocked when Thiago Pitarch dilly-dallied on the penalty spot, allowing O’Reilly to nick possession and unleash a close-range effort that forced a splendid reactionary save from Courtois.

But Guardiola’s men couldn’t reduce the deficit, and just like the five other English clubs who failed to win their first leg fixtures, it leaves Manchester City with plenty of work to do next week.

Man City analysis: It all looked rather Spursy…

It’s fair to say that it hasn’t been a pretty week for English teams in Madrid, having conceded eight goals across two games in the Spanish capital.

Tottenham’s opening half-hour at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday was deservedly mocked by rival fans, because just when you think that the lilywhites have hit rock bottom, they somehow find a way to dig themselves into an even deeper hole.

That was perhaps an expected humiliation. But nobody saw this coming, just like nobody saw the Manchester City defence for Fede Valverde’s opener… because they were absent.

Thibaut Courtois’ ball over the top caught the visitors off guard, and Gianluigi Donnarumma appeared to think he had strayed outside of his box in an attempt to beat the Real Madrid captain to the ball as he sharply pulled his hands away from the Uruguayan’s strike.

The second was a well-worked goal and the third was a moment of excellence from the 27-year-old to complete the first hat-trick of his senior career – but Manchester City did not heed the warning signs, and could have shipped a fourth when their defence was penetrated by Vinicius Jr early in the second half, forcing Donnarumma to concede a penalty which was ultimately rolled into his grateful arms by the Brazilian.

City now head back to England looking to overturn a three-goal deficit next week… just like Igor Tudor’s Spurs.