Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde wrote a new page in Champions League history.
Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick against Manchester City on Wednesday night, a rare feat when English teams face each other. Valverde scored in the 20th minute after a well-received ball that then went past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Then in the 27th minute he scored a beautiful goal with a powerful shot from the left from the area. He completed the hat-trick in the 42nd minute, with a precise shot from close range. With this result, the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 ended.
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"Yes, definitely, especially in terms of goals. I liked it a lot. It had been a long time since I had been so satisfied. Happy, joyful, for the team's victory," Valverde said.
With his performance, the Real Madrid player became only the second player in the tournament's history to score a hat-trick in the first half against an English opponent.
Until now, the only player to have achieved this feat was Lionel Messi. The Argentine superstar scored three goals in the first half against Arsenal in 2010, during a remarkable Champions League match, while he was part of Barcelona.
Since then, no player has managed to repeat such a performance against an English club, until Valverde broke out with an impressive first-half display against Manchester City.
This achievement becomes even more special considering the strength of Premier League teams in European competitions this season.
Scoring three times within 45 minutes against an English rival is a difficult feat, due to the high physical and tactical level that these teams have, especially in the Champions League.
Valverde's record is now placed on a separate list, sharing the statistics with one of the best players of all time.
Beyond his usual role as a box-to-box midfielder, Valverde has on several occasions also shown the ability to reach the opposition's area and decide important matches.
His performance against Manchester City will not only be a memorable night for Real Madrid, but also one of the greatest statistical achievements in the history of the Champions League.