Federico Valverde hat-trick puts Real Madrid in control against Manchester City
Mar 11th 2026
Valverde produced a stunning first-half hat-trick while captaining Real Madrid, a performance that moved his side significantly closer to the Champions League quarter-finals.
- Valverde captained Real Madrid and scored his first senior hat-trick within the opening 42 minutes.
- His third goal saw him lift the ball over Marc Guehi and volley past Gianluigi Donnarumma, drawing visible reactions from injured teammates Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe in the stands.
- Trent Alexander-Arnold and other pundits praised Valverde's work rate and leadership, calling him underrated.
- Valverde joined Real in 2017 and spent his first year on loan at Deportivo La Coruna.
- This season he has started 37 of 39 matches, regularly covers multiple positions and serves as Real's second captain behind Dani Carvajal.