Real Madrid’s Valverde rediscovers his killer mode under Arbeloa

Fede Valverde has produced many outstanding performances in a Real Madrid shirt, but it always felt as if his masterpiece was still to come. It arrived in the first half of the Champions League round-of-16 first leg against Manchester City.

With Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham both sidelined through injury and Gonzalo left on the bench, Madrid lined up with Vinicius and Brahim leading the attack, in other words without a natural No. 9. Valverde read that absence perfectly, scoring a hat trick in the opening 45 minutes, the first of his professional career and one that places him in an exclusive club: only Rial, Puskás and Mbappé had previously scored a Champions League first-half hat trick for Madrid. Only one other Madrid midfielder has scored three goals in the European Cup: Pirri, against AEL Limassol in 1968.

Valverde on fire against Manchester City

The three goals came in three different ways, highlighting the scale of Valverde’s display. For the first, he set off from the right wing, his starting position in the lineup, chasing a long ball from Thibaut Courtois into space. He reacted quicker than Gianluigi Donnarumma, rounding the goalkeeper before finishing calmly from a tight angle while falling.

For the next two goals he moved into a more central position, giving Madrid the No. 9 they needed in those moments. For the second, he burst forward, brought down a deflected through ball from Vinicius with a perfect touch and fired home with his left foot, his weaker side. Donnarumma had no chance.

The third provided the final flourish: another run behind the defense to meet a delicate chipped pass from Brahim. Valverde flicked the ball over Marc Guéhi with his first touch before finishing coolly from close range. It was the finish of a gifted center forward.

Valverde’s struggles this season

The performance marks the peak of a season that has not always been easy for Valverde. The Uruguayan started well under Xabi Alonso, but tensions soon emerged over the need for him to play at right back, something he appeared reluctant to accept in public comments before later clarifying that he would play wherever he was asked. His preference is to play centrally, yet it is often out wide where his qualities find their best expression. That is nothing new. Last season, in the Champions League playoff against City, he was Madrid’s most effective player on the ball in the 3-1 second-leg win, aside from Mbappé, who scored a hat trick. On that occasion, Valverde played at right back.

Under Arbeloa, with whom he shared an embrace after one of his goals, he has rediscovered his sharpest edge. He had already scored the winner against Celta at Balaídos and now has six goals this season, five of them under Arbeloa.

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