New Delhi: Midfielder Federico Valverde’s maiden hat-trick put Real Madrid in control of their Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City with a 3-0 win in the first leg.
At Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, City began on a positive note but were stung on the counter by the home side.
Valverde opened the scoring in he 20th minute when he latched onto Thibaut Courtois long cross field ball down the right ando rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Seven minutes later the Uruguayan beat the offside trap and drilled a diagonal left footer home after being fed by Vinicius Jr.
In the 42nd minute, Madrid extended their lead through another rapid counter as Valverde completed his hat-trick with a volley to Brahim Diaz’s pass after flicking the ball over Marc Guehi.
Madrid could have won by a bigger margin had not Donnarumma denied Vinicius from the penalty spot after the goalkeeper brought down the Brazilian inside the box.
“Incredible, one dreams of nights like this. I really enjoyed myself today; it had been quite some time since I had enjoyed a match this much. I am pleased, I am happy, but above all, I am delighted with the team’s victory,” Valverde told Movistar Plus.
PSG soar in Paris
Defending champions Paris St Germain put daylight between them and Chelsea with a 5-2 first leg win at the Parc des Princes.
PSG twice went ahead through Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele but Chelsea equalised when Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez found the target, before Vitinha and substitute Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s brace put them in a commanding position.
“I’m happy that I can help, happy that we won against Chelsea because they are a good team. We are still PSG. We showed everybody that we are capable of everything,” Kvaratskhelia said.
PSG coach Luis Enrique was was glad at his team’s resilience while his Chelsea counterpart Liam Rosenior rued concession of the fifth goal.
“Despite conceding twice after taking the lead, we continued to go for the win against a team who were very strong physically and technically and we’ll get more of the same in London,” Enrique said.
“We are a resilient team. Resilience is a word that defines us, and our supporters.”
“I was really happy with our performance but the last 15-20 minutes were crazy. The scoreline is painful because we were in the tie for 75 minutes. At the Champions League level it’s fine margins, the fifth goal is the most painful,” Rosenior said.
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt continued their giant killing act as they took a 3-0 lead Sporting de Portugal, extending their run of victories in the competition to five including against Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan twice.
Kai Havertz’s late penalty enabled Arsenal to draw with Bayer Leverkusen 1-1.