Premier League leaders Arsenal snatched a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen to preserve their unbeaten record in Europe this season, while Bodo/Glimt continued their fairytale run with a 3-0 win over Sporting.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s record 15-time European champions avenged their loss to City in the league phase as Valverde struck three times in the first half to hand Madrid full control of the tie despite the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe.
“(It was) incredible, you dream of nights like this,” Valverde told Movistar. “It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a game like this.”
Valverde ran onto a long kick from Thibaut Courtois and dribbled past Gianluigi Donnarumma to slot home and give Madrid the lead at the Santiago Bernabeu against City as the teams met in a knockout tie for the fifth season running.
The Uruguayan midfielder arrowed a low drive into the far corner to double Madrid’s advantage and then completed his hat-trick with a sublime touch and finish after linking up with Brahim Diaz.
City could have suffered an ever heavier defeat but Donnarumma saved a second-half penalty from Vinicius Junior after the City goalkeeper brought down the Brazilian.
“I had a feeling that we were better than the result said. But the result is here,” City boss Pep Guardiola said, refusing to write off his team’s chances next week.
“In football you never know. We will try.”
Meanwhile, Kai Havertz scored an 89th-minute penalty to snatch Arsenal a 1-1 draw away against Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League last-16 first leg.
Arsenal, who won all eight of their games in the league phase, fell behind to a simple Leverkusen corner when Robert Andrich headed in moments after half-time.
But in the dying stages, substitute Havertz stepped up to convert against his former side after Noni Madueke was brought down in the box.
“I know how hard it is to come here. We knew what to expect,” Havertz, playing against Leverkusen for the first time, said.
“We didn’t play our best today. But we’re going home with a good result. We need to step on the gas next week. We’ll have our fans behind us, which is very important.”
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta lamented his side losing their grip on the match early in the second half.
“We had the game well under control, but didn’t score. Then we let the game slip away. That was unnecessary,” Arteta said.
“We gave them hope and it was a different game. In the last 20-25 minutes, we played better again and I think the equaliser was deserved.”
Leverkusen will need a big performance next Tuesday in the return leg to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since finishing runners-up to Real Madrid in 2002.
“We’ve shown we can beat Arsenal. We’re travelling there believing we can take something away from London. Otherwise we wouldn’t make the trip,” Andrich told reporters.
Bodo/Glimt continued their dream debut campaign by swatting aside Sporting Lisbon 3-0 to take a big step towards the quarter-finals.
The Norwegians racked up a remarkable fifth consecutive win in the competition in the last-16 first leg at Aspmyra Stadion.
Sondre Brunstad Fet put Bodo ahead from the penalty spot just after the half-hour mark and Ole Didrik Blomberg made it two in first-half injury time.
Kasper Hogh scored his fifth Champions League goal in as many games with 19 minutes remaining to spark wild celebrations. (AFP)
Edited by Cecil Wong
