Federico Valverde's hat-trick powered Real Madrid to a resounding 3-0 victory over Manchester City in a dominant UEFA Champions League display.
Real Madrid delivered a commanding performance, defeating Manchester City 3-0 in their UEFA Champions League clash on March 11, 2026. Federico Valverde was the undisputed star, netting a sensational hat-trick that left the visitors stunned at an unknown venue.
Coming into the match, Real Madrid held a strong position in their group, sitting sixth with 12 points from five games. Manchester City, despite their formidable reputation, were trailing in 12th with 10 points. Both teams aimed to solidify their European campaigns.
The home side wasted no time asserting control. In the 20th minute, Valverde opened the scoring, guiding home a clinical finish after a precise pass from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Just seven minutes later, Valverde struck again. Vinicius Junior provided the assist, setting up the Uruguayan midfielder to double Real Madrid's lead with another well-placed shot in the 27th minute.
Valverde completed his remarkable hat-trick just before halftime. Brahim Diaz threaded a pass through the City defence, and Valverde made no mistake, firing the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 42nd minute to give Real Madrid a comfortable lead.
At the break, City faced a daunting three-goal shortfall. Manager Pep Guardiola needed to inspire a monumental turnaround, with tactical adjustments surely on the agenda to counter Real Madrid's clinical attack.
The second half saw both teams make immediate changes. Ferland Mendy replaced Fran Garcia for Real Madrid, while Savinho came on for T. Reijnders for Manchester City.
The visitors’ frustrations mounted when Donnarumma received a yellow card in the 57th minute for a trip. Just moments later, Vinicius Junior had a chance to extend Real Madrid's lead from the penalty spot, but he unfortunately missed, keeping the score at 3-0.
Substitutions continued throughout the half, with Real Madrid bringing on Arda Guler and Manchester City introducing Bernardo Silva and Alfred Semenyo in the 70th minute. Later, Brahim Diaz and Federico Mastantuono were also replaced by Theo Pitarch and Miguel Ángel Morán for Real Madrid.
City’s difficult evening was compounded when Romain Ait-Nouri earned a yellow card in the 82nd minute. Erling Haaland was also substituted late on as City searched for any consolation, but Real Madrid's defence held firm.
Real Madrid achieved their 3-0 victory with just 40% ball possession, demonstrating incredible efficiency. They registered seven shots on target from 12 total shots, accumulating an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.59. Manchester City, conversely, had 60% possession but managed only four shots on target and a low xG of 0.56, highlighting their struggles to convert pressure into clear-cut chances.
This dominant performance by Real Madrid significantly strengthens their position in the UEFA Champions League group. It sends a clear message about their title aspirations, while Manchester City will need to regroup quickly after this significant setback.
