“This Madrid is real and Valverde wears the crown” - global media reacts to Champions League masterclass against City

Real Madrid have once again shown that the blood of the Champions League runs through their veins. The win puts Álvaro Arbeloa’s side on the brink of the quarterfinals thanks to an imperial night from Federico Valverde. Newspapers around the world led with the victory for the team from Concha Espina, with special attention on the Uruguayan’s three first-half goals.

El País (Uruguay): “Valverde played the game of his life”

“El Pajarito, who had said they needed to give everything tonight, was truly inspired and, before the half-hour mark, combined perfectly with Vinicius to stretch the lead. The Brazilian read the Uruguayan’s diagonal run perfectly, Federico Valverde found himself in scoring position and fired a left-footed volley across goal to beat Donnarumma.

In the 38th minute, Real Madrid had to defend a corner kick and El Pajarito was on the front line to win a header. The Uruguayan was having a defining night, one more in a growing list, and he showed it again minutes later. In the 42nd minute, he once again read a teammate’s intention brilliantly, Brahim Díaz set him up superbly and Federico Valverde finished with total class. A little chip over the first defender who came out to close him down and a volley into Donnarumma’s far post. Absolute madness.”

Olé: “Saint Valverde of Madrid”

“A statement win – here is the true king of Europe. With authority and a brilliant first half from Federico Valverde, Real Madrid thrashed Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. The Merengue club executed its plan to perfection and is now firmly on course for the quarterfinals.

After City’s frantic opening 10 minutes, when they had two chances to go ahead, the first blows of the night came from Federico Valverde, the heart of Madrid, who delivered the standout performance of his career. First, with a spectacular long pass from Courtois – not just a hopeful lump forward – that found El Pajarito in the perfect position to drive at Donnarumma, beat him with a delicate touch and make it 1-0.”

L’Équipe: “This Madrid is real and Valverde wears the crown”

“Thanks to an unexpected and magnificent hat trick from Valverde, Real Madrid silenced Manchester City. Real Madrid played without their star striker, Kylian Mbappé, who was unavailable and watching from the stands, and even without a true No. 9 for this first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City (3-0) on Wednesday night. It was a bold decision, but ultimately a winning one, by coach Álvaro Arbeloa, successor to Xabi Alonso. Because the Madrid club had its all-action weapon on the field: Federico Valverde.

The Uruguayan even scored a first-half hat trick to leave his team in an ideal position for next week’s second leg. Capable of playing at fullback at times, dictating the game in midfield or even operating on the right wing, as he did on Wednesday, Valverde produced a majestic display.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport: “Valverde’s fury crushes City”

“Everyone expected Manchester City, but Federico Valverde, the Uruguayan midfielder wearing the captain’s armband, had other ideas. Without Mbappé, Bellingham or Rodrygo – and four others as well, with Arbeloa missing seven players through injury – Valverde scored three goals in the first half and Madrid beat a stunned Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 3-0.

In Madrid’s glorious European history, only once had a midfielder scored three goals in the Champions League: the legendary Pirri in 1968. At the Bernabéu, they already adore his commitment to the cause and his devotion to the shirt, and after this night they have even more reason to idolize him.”

Guardian: “Valverde, Real’s ever versatile Little Bird, goes on a flight of pure fantasy”

Another gem of an article from Sid Lowe, looking at the multiple players that Valverde embodies.

Bild: “Real Madrid humiliate Pep”

“No Mbappé, no goals? Think again! Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. Even without the injured Kylian Mbappé (knee sprain), things went perfectly for Los Blancos. Above all because another superstar took over. Federico Valverde scored a hat trick in just 21 minutes.

So before next Tuesday’s return leg in Manchester, a quarterfinal showdown between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich is already coming into view. The two clubs would meet for the 31st and 32nd time overall in the knockout rounds. Bayern have won 12 games so far, Real Madrid 14, and four have ended in draws.”

A Bola: “Real Madrid were made for the Champions League and Arbeloa gave Guardiola a tactical lesson”

“Real Madrid must be the only European club that treats the Champions League as its own property. That is the only way to explain the 15 trophies it has collected. They may be doing well or badly, they may be in a major or minor crisis, they may go through moments of euphoria or depression, but they arrive at the biggest games and do what we saw on Wednesday night: humiliate Manchester City.

Yes, Arbeloa – the controversial Álvaro Arbeloa – gave Pep Guardiola a tactical lesson. Without Mbappé, Bellingham, Carreras or Rodrygo, to name just a few, the Madrid coach wove a web the English side never managed to escape.”

The Athletic: “One of the all-time great Champions League hat tricks”

“What is it about this fixture that always seems to produce something special? It was Federico Valverde who became the hero in this latest installment of Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, the 12th meeting of its kind in the 2020s, with the Uruguayan scoring the first hat trick of his career and one of the best in Champions League history to put Álvaro Arbeloa’s team in complete control of the round-of-16 tie at the Bernabéu.

Valverde put Madrid ahead in the 20th minute, racing onto a long ball from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, getting past Nico O’Reilly and nudging it beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma before finishing from a tight angle. Courtois’ assist was his second of the season in the Champions League, meaning he now has more than Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo for Madrid this season.”

The Sun: “Pep on the brink”

“He told his team to ‘look Real Madrid in the eye,’ but they ended up dazzled by local captain Fede Valverde’s magnificent first-half hat trick. And now they are staring at possible Champions League elimination at the hands of the Spanish giants for the third season in a row.

This game has been dubbed the ‘European Clásico’ because the teams have now faced each other for the 16th time in this competition, all since 2012.”

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