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Real Madrid 3-0 Manchester City: Seasoned winners Real have been on a lacklustre run of late but were back in vintage form as Fede Valverde scored his first career hat-trick
Richard Jolly at the Bernabeu & Flo CliffordWednesday 11 March 2026 23:15 GMT- Bookmark
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Manchester City were odds-on favourites to win the first leg of their blockbuster Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid but have it all to do in the second leg after losing 3-0 at the Bernabeu.
Real captain Federico Valverde produced one of his best performances to date, scoring a first-half hat-trick - the first of his career - to inflict City’s first defeat in 12 games.
Madrid’s opener was teed up by a long ball forward from keeper Thibaut Courtois, with his opposite number Gianluigi Donnarumma opting to back out of a challenge rather than risk a penalty or red card, allowing Valverde to round him and squeeze a tightly-angled finish into the open net.
He added a second and third within 22 minutes, the third a sublime goal, with Brahim Diaz chipping the ball over Ruben Dias and Valverde proceeding to do the same to Guehi, a brilliant touch to set up his volleyed finish.
Courtois produced a point-blank save from Nico O’Reilly after a defensive error in the second half, but City were largely contained and face an uphill battle in the second leg at the Etihad.
Follow latest updates from Real Madrid v Manchester City below:
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Real Madrid v Manchester City | Champions League last-16 live
- Real Madrid host Man City in first leg of blockbuster Champions League last-16 tie
- '58 PENALTY SAVED! Donnarumma saves poor Vini Jr spot-kick to make up for conceding penalty with late challenge [RMA 3-0 MCI]
- '42 GOAL! Valverde seals superb hat-trick with magnificent third [RMA 3-0 MCI]
- '27 GOAL! Valverde produces superb finish with quickfire double [RMA 2-0 MCI]
- '20 GOAL! Valverde scores opener against the run of play [RMA 1-0 MCI]
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Trent, Huijsen, Rudiger, F. Mendy, Valverde, Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Brahim, Thiago, Vini Jr
- Man City XI: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Guéhi, O’Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo, Savinho, Semenyo, Doku, Haaland
Federico Valverde caps superb night for Real Madrid’s understudies as Pep Guardiola gets it wrong
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.
Valverde caps superb night for Real Madrid’s understudies as Guardiola gets it wrong
Real Madrid 3-0 Manchester City: Seasoned winners Real have been on a lacklustre run of late but were back in vintage form as Fede Valverde scored his first career hat-trickRead moreRichard Jolly11 March 2026 22:08Champions League last 16
Here’s how we’re poised ahead of the second legs:
Tuesday 17 March
Sporting CP vs Bodo/Glimt (0-3 agg.) - 5.45pm
Arsenal vs Leverkusen (1-1 agg.)
Chelsea vs PSG (2-5 agg.)
Man City vs Real Madrid (0-3 agg.)
Wednesday 18 March
Barcelona vs Newcastle (1-1 agg.) - 5.45pm
Liverpool vs Galatasaray (0-1 agg.)
Tottenham vs Atletico (2-5 agg.)
Bayern Munich vs Atalanta (6-1 agg.)
Flo Clifford11 March 2026 23:08'It is what it is' - Pep Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is in a phlegmatic mood as he speaks to TNT Sport.
He says: “Real Madrid had the ability and the quality. It is what it is. I felt we were better than the result. Now is the time to recover. We'll go to West Ham which will be tough."
Is the comeback on? “In football you never know. We will try.” Excellent insight, Pep.
Flo Clifford11 March 2026 22:52'It feels really dark' - Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva adds it was “quite frustrating” to not score, “even though we believe it is still possible because in football a lot of things can happen. At half-time we were saying, ‘the situation is bad’ there were a lot of things that shouldn’t have happened but with one goal you are in the tie.
“At 3-0 it makes it a bit more difficult. Now it feels really bad, now it feels really dark. Tomorrow is another day and for sure next week we will go to the game thinking we have a chance.
“Right now is the moment to reflect and see what we didn’t do right. Then next week when we are preparing we will be hopeful we can do something.”
Flo Clifford11 March 2026 22:46'Tough stadium to play at' - Bernardo Silva
Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva tells TNT Sports: “It is difficult to speak about it because I would need to watch it again. My feeling on the pitch was that we started the game well.
“The environment we could not control and I think my team let the emotions change the game. We felt comfortable and were finding the right spaces but after conceding the first one we lost completely the control, we stopped controlling transitions and second balls. When you play against Real Madrid with the quality they have you pay the price.
“It is a tough stadium to play at. We are used to playing at these stadiums because playing at Anfield and St James’ Park is very tough. You need to go through these moments to become better and today was just a learning game for the whole team.”
Flo Clifford11 March 2026 22:39Alexander-Arnold: 'A lot of people were expecting us to get battered'
Trent Alexander-Arnold speaks to TNT Sports now. He says: “A lot of people were expecting us to get battered tonight. But it shows the mentality, this competition means a lot to the club and us as players. Anyone can win and we’ve absolutely executed the game plan perfectly in the first half,” he says.
It’s put to him that it’s almost like Real were offended at suggestions City were the favourites tonight. “Of course. The way that both teams have been playing, it could have been true, but when you get to knockout football in the Champions League, anyone can beat anyone.”
He adds that Valverde is, “undoubtedly the most underrated player on the planet” and laughs at the footage of Bellingham’s reaction. “As a player the best attribute you can have is that your teammates can always count on you, he never lets us down. For many years he’s been in that top bracket of midfielders.”
Flo Clifford11 March 2026 22:32Man City face uphill battle
By the second leg Real may well have Mbappe back too, as he’s been in training...
He was in the crowd tonight and went wild celebrating Valverde’s hat-trick. Bellingham, also in the crowd, was gobsmacked at the third, jaw dropping and clapping in disbelief, miming bowing down to his teammate.
(Getty Images)Flo Clifford11 March 2026 22:26Bad week for Premier League teams
It’s been a terrible week all round for the Premier League sides in the Champions League. Arsenal were hot favourites after the league phase but needed a late penalty to even draw with Leverkusen, Newcastle came undone with a late penalty going against them too, and every other side lost.
- Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool
- Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham
- Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona
- Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
- Paris St-Germain 5-2 Chelsea
- Real Madrid 3-0 Man City
Full scores from Champions League tonight
Here’s how it finished across Europe tonight:
- Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
- Paris St-Germain 5-2 Chelsea
- Real Madrid 3-0 Man City
- Bodo/Glimt 3-0 Sporting CP
Real Madrid 3-0 Man City
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)Flo Clifford11 March 2026 22:00Newer1 / 10OlderMore about
Real MadridManchester CityErling HaalandChampions LeagueKylian MbappeBenficaGianluigi DonnarummaThibaut CourtoisPep GuardiolaRuben DiasBrahim DiazVinicius JrJoin our commenting forum
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