There are performances that are destined for a special place even in a history as rich as Real Madrid’s. Fede Valverde has achieved much in his time at the Bernabeu and may yet end this season lifting the Champions League trophy but this was his night, a seminal, spectacular performance.
Often Real’s deluxe odd-job man, Valverde took on the role of the superstar, glittering on a terrible night for Pep Guardiola.
No Kylian Mbappe, no Jude Bellingham, no Rodrgyo? No problem. Valverde more than compensated for the absence of Real’s injured attackers. He took on the mantle of the sidelined Rodrygo, often the tormentor of Manchester City.
He had three goals all season. Indeed, he had three in 75 Champions League appearances. Then came three before half-time. Stand-in skipper, stand-in scorer, he was outstanding. The first hat-trick of his career was completed with the best of a terrific trio and came in a virtuoso display.
An unhappy, and emergency, right-back earlier in the season, Valverde showed the merits of unleashing him in the final third. One of the great footballing all-rounders of his generation, he may be a player with the ability to perform almost anywhere. Here he was a roving right winger, materialising in the middle, timing his runs superbly, forever the elusive man on the move.
He left City dumbstruck. There is still a second leg at the Etihad but they were eviscerated, and may have been eliminated, by a team featuring plenty of understudies. They had conceded a hat-trick at the Bernabeu last year. But that was to Mbappe, to the man who may be destined for the World Cup scoring records. Not to Valverde. Yet his blend of dynamism and opportunism was stunning.
Guardiola is aware of the regal power of Real Madrid but he can also testify to their resourcefulness. They usually find a way in this competition, often at his expense. They did so with a weakened team. Perhaps that lured Guardiola into a false sense of security. His own selection looked overly attacking, with three wingers behind Erling Haaland. Real had no real striker, Valverde operating further forward than usual. That proved a devastating formula.
City were cut open too easily. Real sat off them, then counter-attacked superbly. For the opener, Nico O’Reilly, a scorer in City’s December win at the Bernabeu, misjudged the flight of Thibaut Courtois’ long ball, allowing Valverde to dart in behind him, slip the ball past a sliding Gianluigi Donnarumma and angle a shot into the empty net. Guardiola used to have the goalkeeper who got the assists, in Ederson, but Courtois gave him a taste of his medicine.
Then Valverde went through his repertoire. His second came courtesy of a surge through the inside-left channel to meet Vinicius Junior’s pass, followed by a fine finish with his left foot. The third was the best of the lot, Arda Guler chipping the ball into the box, Valverde volleying it past Marc Guehi with his first touch and beating Donnarumma with this second.
Such solace as City could take came courtesy of their goalkeeper. A three-goal deficit is difficult to overcome. Four might have been impossible. It should have been four.
Released by Trent Alexander-Arnold, Vinicius escaped behind City’s defence and was felled by Donnarumma. Yet his spot kick was tame and parried by the Italian. Real may have wished the irresistible Valverde took it instead.
Donnarumma also saved from Arda Guler in the second half while Vinicius curled a shot wide. City, in a bind between needing a goal and needing not to concede another, occasionally threatened to reduce the deficit.
Antonio Rudiger celebrated a goal-saving interception to stop Erling Haaland tapping in Antoine Semenyo’s cross. Courtois made a magnificent save from an O’Reilly shot that was in part a tackle on Thiago Pitarch, the teenager in the biggest game of his life.
Yet the fact the 18-year-old was starting showed how Real’s resources were stretched. Guardiola had the luxury of rather more choice and the verdict may be that he plumped for the wrong ones.
Savinho’s fine display at Newcastle on Saturday may have earned him a place but he was anonymous and removed at half-time. O’Reilly, excellent in midfield of late, reverted to left-back and struggled. With his supply line failing, Haaland was only allowed 10 touches by the time he was substituted.
Thiago was not the only rookie to have a night to savour. For Alvaro Arbeloa, a glorified caretaker of a manager, this was something special. He may have ended Guardiola’s chances of winning a fourth Champions League as a manager. City can recall they have beaten Real 4-0 in a second leg, at the Etihad in 2023. But then they did not need such an emphatic win. Now they do, and all thanks to Valverde.
