PEP'S GIVEN A REAL KICKING

City crash 'n' Bern as Valverde dishes out Bernabeu beating

- FROM SIMON BAJKOWSKI

FEDERICO VALVERDE had a night to remember in the Bernabeu - but it was one to forget for Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side.

Real Madrid midfielder Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick to put his side in total command in the first leg of this Champions League round-of-16 tie.

Valverde broke the deadlock after just 20 minutes.

He then added a second seven minutes later and wrapped up his hat-trick three minutes before the break.

Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a penalty to prevent an even greater catastrophe for City - who will need a remarkable turnaround to progress after their Madrid nightmare.

In what could be his last trip to a ground where he has been loathed for decades, Guardiola picked an unusually attacking lineup.

The plan was for City to hurt a Real team that has been punched onto the ropes this season in La Liga.

Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho all started in support of striker Erling Haaland.