After Real Madrid's emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16—propelled by Federico Valverde's first-half hat-trick despite the absences of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé—new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold demanded Champions League glory after Real Madrid’s emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Santiago Bernabéu on March 11, 2026. Federico Valverde stole the show with a first-half hat-trick, scoring in the 20th, 27th and 42nd minutes to hand Madrid a commanding lead despite the absence of Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé.
Speaking after the match, Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in the summer of 2025, underlined the squad’s mentality. “Massive performance... A lot of people just expected us to get battered tonight,” he said, stressing there were no excuses and that resilience was essential. He made the club’s objective clear: “We have to go and win the Champions League... Our mentality is to go all the way.” He also singled out Valverde, calling him “the most underrated footballer on the planet.”
Thibaut Courtois delivered a solid display as Madrid took their chances with ruthlessness, leaving City with a steep task in the return fixture. Alexander-Arnold’s insistence on full commitment to European success frames Madrid’s immediate priorities as they build on a dominant first leg and prepare for the second matchup, where Manchester City will face a significant uphill battle.
0 comments
Leave a comment
Keep it respectful.
No comments yet.
Be the first to share your thoughts.
