ULuguaya midfielder Federico Valverde added a historic chapter to the UEFA Champions League by scoring three goals in the first half against Manchester City. This is an extremely rare record against an English team.
Kylian Mbapp reacts in the stands after Federico Valverde scores a hat-trick against Manchester City
With this performance, the Real Madrid player became the second footballer in the history of the tournament to score a hat-trick in the first half against England.
A very prestigious club in the Champions League
Until now, the only player to have achieved something similar was Lionel Messi.
The Argentine star scored three goals in the first half against Arsenal in a memorable match against FC Barcelona in the 2010 Champions League.
Since then, no other footballer has repeated such a performance against an English club until Valverde’s explosive first half against Manchester City.
A record that highlights the difficulties
This brand is particularly valuable given the historic strength of Premier League teams in European competition.
Scoring three goals in just 45 minutes against their English rivals is a rare feat considering the level of physicality and tactics these clubs usually display in the Champions League.
Valverde’s record places him on a very select list, sharing statistics with one of the greatest players of all time.
Valverde continues to expand his influence
Valverde has shown on several occasions his ability to go beyond his usual role as a box-to-box midfielder and appear in opposition areas to decide important matches.
His performance against Manchester City will not only be remembered as a memorable night for Real Madrid, but also as one of the most interesting statistical milestones in recent Champions League history.
