BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — After Federico Valverde single-handedly got Real Madrid back in Champions League domination mode with his hat trick against Manchester City, the 15-time European Cup winner must take a brief dip back into La Liga this weekend.

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Manchester City had no answers for Real Madrid captain Federico Valverde as the La Liga side won the opening leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie 3-0 on Wednesday. Valverde completed his first hat trick in a 22-minute span in the first half.

Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick to lead Real Madrid into a 3-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. Federico Valverde was the hero of the night as Real Madrid delivered a dominant first-leg statement against Manchester City in the Champions League Round of 16.

It was the Federico Valverde show at the Bernabeu as the Real Madrid midfielder scored a fantastic first-half hat-trick against Manchester City. The Uruguayan rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma to open the scoring in the 20th minute before a brilliant left-footed strike doubled his tally and his side's advantage seven minutes later.

Vinicius Junior asked if teammate Federico Valverde wanted to take the penalty he won during Wednesday night's Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City. It was an evening to remember for Valverde,

Seasoned winners Real have been on a lacklustre run of late but were back in vintage form as Fede Valverde scored his first career hat-trick