Hat-trick hero Valverde inspired as Real Madrid thrash Manchester City to take control of last 16 tie

Champions League / Last 16

Bernabéu / 11.03.2026

Real Madrid

Finished

Manchester City

F. Valverde(20', 27', 42')

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Highlights

22:33

HIGHLIGHTS: REAL THRASH CITY TO TAKE CONTROL OF TIE

Highlights: Valverde first-half hat-trick rocks Man City

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:30

VALVERDE INSPIRES REAL TO LANDMARK WIN

Federico Valverde’s sensational first-half hat-trick inspired Real Madrid to a 3-0 first leg win over toothless Manchester City in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

The Premier League side were considered big favourites against a fragile Real side in poor form, but they were blown away by Valverde’s remarkable first-half blitz at a buoyant Bernabeu.

Pep Guardiola’s men ended a harrowing night knowing it could have been even worse had goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma not saved a Vinicius Junior penalty that would have extended the deficit to four goals.

A lack of familiarity with the opposition was certainly no excuse, this being the fifth season in a row that these two sides have locked horns in the Champions League knockout stages.

After a lively start with chances at both ends, the Valverde show opened for the night. His first was a bolt from the blue as Thibaut Courtois launched a long ball forward which the midfielder took down with his first touch before rounding Donnarumma to slot a finish into an empty net.

His second was another delight, a left-footed bullet finish into the far bottom corner, but the third was the highlight as he dinked a touch over Marc Guehi and drilled a volley home to complete a spectacular treble in 22 first-half minutes.

Things very nearly got worse for City when Donnarumma brought down Vinicius to concede a penalty early in the second half, but the big Italian made amends by saving a tame spot kick.

City struggled to find a response, their best opportunity coming in unusual fashion when Nico O’Reilly got a shot away while pressing Thiago Pitarch 12 yards from goal, only for Courtois to produce a sublime reaction stop with his foot.

Man City are now left with a mountain to climb when they welcome Real to the Etihad Stadium for the second leg next Tuesday, March 17 at 20:00 UK time.

22:21

WATCH: COURTOIS' SUPERB SAVE DENIES CITY

Courtois pulls off 'astonishing' save to deny Man City

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:16

DONNARUMMA SAYS 'TIE ISN'T OVER'

"Donnarumma whispered in my ear after the game, 'this tie isn't over'. And he stepped up for his team," Hart told TNT Sports.

"4-0 is a terrible, terrible scoreline, something you can't come back from, but keeping it at 3-0, massive."

22:14

OUCH

Lots of work to do next week for English clubs - particularly the three of them with three-goal margins to overturn!

22:11

WATCH: DONNARUMMA DENIES VINICIUS

Things could have been even worse for City tonight were it not for this moment.

Vinicius Jnr has penalty saved by Donnarumma in potentially 'big moment'

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:09

CHELSEA COLLAPSE LATE ON

That one finished 5-2 in Paris. Not a good week for the Premier League clubs!

‘It’s a moment of class!’ – Kvaratskhelia scores STUNNER to ‘break Chelsea hearts’

Video credit: TNT Sports

22:06

HART: PEP GOT RUDE AWAKENING

"Manchester City played like they were decimated with injuries tonight. People playing out of position, people kind of forced in," Hart told TNT Sports.

"They have got so many options in every position. I think Pep smelt blood tonight. People make mistakes, of course they do. I think he wanted to load up heavy and put the tie to bed, but he got a rude awakening tonight."

Image credit: Getty Images

22:02

MORE FROM MACCA

"Rudiger stepped up, but the captain was the main man tonight. They had three 18-year-olds on the pitch tonight, so that can't be scoffed at.

"This was a hell of a performance. Wow, wow, wow. I think everybody to a person in this stadium will agree, that is some performance, one of the best, because of the personnel they had tonight."

Image credit: Getty Images

21:57

MACCA HAILS 'HELL OF A PERFORMANCE'

"This was a hell of a performance," Steve McManaman tells TNT Sports.

He's not wrong. Real Madrid were under all sorts of pressure going into tonight's game, and they delivered big time.

NEVER write off this lot when it comes to a big European night.

Full time

21:53

FULL-TIME: REAL MADRID 3-0 MANCHESTER CITY

Valverde's superb first-half hat-trick inflicts City's heaviest defeat of the season. What a performance from the Real captain, and it could have been an even bigger win had Donnarumma not saved Vinicius' penalty after the break. City with a mountain to climb in the second leg.