Real Madrid's former coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed the light-hearted message he sent to Federico Valverde following the midfielder’s stunning hat-trick against Manchester City. The Uruguayan international produced the performance of a lifetime at the Santiago Bernabeu, single-handedly dismantling the Premier League giants in a sensational first-half display. His treble has put the Spanish giants in a commanding position ahead of the second leg.
Real Madrid cruised to a 4-1 win over struggling Elche to put the pressure back on La Liga leaders Barcelona. Los Blancos built on their thrashing of Manchester City in the Champions League, with Federico Valverde among the goal scorers again in the Spanish capital. Although it was substitute Arda Guler who stole the show with a stunning strike from his own half in the dying stages.
Real Madrid’s 3-0 demolition of Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 was almost the perfect night for Los Blancos, but for Vinicius Junior's missed penalty that could've added further gloss to the result. In the 58th minute, after the Brazilian forward was felled in the box, cameras caught the moment Vinicius gestured towards Valverde, offering the midfielder the chance to step up and bag what would have been a remarkable fourth goal of the game.
Jude Bellingham was caught on camera looking completely stunned as Federico Valverde tore Manchester City apart with a clinical hat-trick. The England international, watching from the stands due to injury, couldn't hide his shock at the Uruguayan’s masterclass in the Champions League.
Within a Real Madrid squad that is packed full of Galacticos, Fede Valverde is rarely singled out for what he offers to Los Blancos despite his obvious importance to the team. On Wednesday, though, he was able to hog the limelight after his stunning first-half hat-trick saw off Manchester City in the Champions League. His performance also earned him the rarest of plaudits: A 10/10 rating from L'Equipe.
Federico Valverde produced a masterclass that will go down in Champions League folklore, leading Real Madrid to a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester City. The Uruguayan midfield engine was outstanding, netting a stunning hat-trick to help the Spanish giants put one foot in the quarter-finals. His performance was so good that a reporter in the mixed zone decided to skip the formalities and jokingly crown him with a 'Ballon d'Or' on the spot.
Real Madrid star Trent Alexander-Arnold has heaped praise on Federico Valverde, describing him as the "most underrated player" in world football following a sensational display against Manchester City. The Uruguayan international took centre stage as Los Blancos secured a dominant 3-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu. Despite the absence of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, Valverde’s first-half hat-trick dismantled Pep Guardiola's side in a rampant 22-minute spell.
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa showered Fede Valverde with immense praise following a commanding 3-0 win over Manchester City, describing the midfielder as the ultimate "benchmark" for the club. Arbeloa emphasised that Valverde embodies every quality a Real Madrid player should possess and remains the definitive standard-bearer for the modern era after his Champions League masterclass.
Federico Valverde turned in a Champions League performance for the ages, bagging a first-half hat-trick to lead Real Madrid to a comfortable 3-0 win in the first leg of their last 16 tie with Manchester City. The Uruguay international headlined a classic Madrid knockout performance, but a penalty miss from Vinicius Jr in the second half might have left the door open for a City comeback.
Federico Valverde's lucky late winner papered over an otherwise disappointing performance from Real Madrid as they snuck past Celta Vigo with a 2-1 win. Los Blancos took the lead inside the first half, but conceded an equaliser shortly after. They seemed destined to settle for a point, but Valverde's winner - a heavily deflected strike in second-half stoppage time - gave them a vital win on the road.
Alvaro Arbeloa was in a reflective mood at the Santiago Bernabéu after guiding Real Madrid into the Champions League round of 16 following a hard-fought victory over Benfica. The former Madrid defender, now leading the Spanish giants from the dugout, oversaw a mature performance as his side secured a 2-1 win on the night, progressing with a 3-1 aggregate scoreline. Despite the celebrations in the capital, the focus quickly shifted to the potential heavyweights awaiting them in the next phase, with a familiar English opponent looming large in the mind of the Madrid head coach.