Alexander-Arnold says Real Madrid embraced underdog label in 3-0 win over Manchester City
Real Madrid turn pre-match doubts into motivation
Trent Alexander-Arnold said Real Madrid drew motivation from being framed as underdogs against Manchester City, after a 3-0 victory that left the English side facing a daunting task in the second leg.
Speaking after the match, Alexander-Arnold referenced the noise around the tie and the expectation in some quarters that Real would struggle, summarising the mood with a pointed line: “Weren’t we supposed to get battered?”
Real entered the game as clear second-favourites based on recent results and form, and they were also without several high-profile players. Yet Alexander-Arnold argued that the club’s attitude in the competition remains consistent regardless of circumstances, describing a mindset that does not allow for excuses.
A decisive first half built on ruthless execution
The contest was effectively shaped by a clinical opening 45 minutes from Real Madrid, who executed their plan with precision and punished City with three first-half goals.
Federico Valverde was the standout figure, scoring a first-half hat-trick that put the hosts firmly in control and made the return match significantly more complicated for City. The midfielder’s performance was described by Alexander-Arnold as emblematic of what Real were trying to do: follow the plan, take chances, and be “very, very ruthless” when opportunities arrived.
Alexander-Arnold said the approach was not about reputations, injuries, or pre-match narratives, but about delivering on the night. He noted that, in his view, the Champions League is a competition where “anyone can beat anyone,” and that Real’s belief in their structure and plan was central to how the first half unfolded.
Valverde’s hat-trick: a performance that defined the night
Valverde’s hat-trick was the defining story of the match, sealing a “stunning victory” and giving Real a commanding advantage. The third goal, in particular, stood out for its combination of technique and composure.
According to the match description, Valverde controlled the ball inside the penalty area with an outstanding touch, flicked it beyond Marc Guehi, and then finished past Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had rushed out to block. The goal completed Valverde’s first career hat-trick and sent the home side into what was described as “dreamland” at the Bernabeu.
For City, the result means they have a mountain to climb if they are to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. For Real, it was a reminder of how quickly a tie can swing when a team finds momentum early and sustains it through decisive finishing.
Alexander-Arnold’s defensive contribution highlighted
While Valverde took the headlines, Alexander-Arnold also drew attention for his own contribution, with the match described as one of his best nights since joining from Liverpool.
He was credited with shutting down Jeremy Doku and helping to contain a City attack that struggled to open up Real’s defensive unit. In a match where City found it difficult to create clear openings, Real’s defensive organisation and individual duels played a major role in preserving the clean sheet that made the three-goal advantage even more significant.
Alexander-Arnold’s comments suggested he saw the performance as a collective response to outside expectations, with the defensive work and attacking efficiency feeding into the same theme: a team intent on controlling what it could control.
“This competition means a lot”: injuries not used as an excuse
Real Madrid’s selection issues were a major part of the pre-match discussion, with the team missing the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo. Alexander-Arnold acknowledged that injuries and absences were part of the backdrop, but insisted they did not change the standards inside the club.
“It doesn’t matter what injuries you’ve got, what players out, this competition means a lot to the club,” he said, framing the result as a reflection of an internal expectation to perform regardless of the lineup.
He also spoke about the demands of playing for a club with such high standards, saying the expectation is that there are “no excuses” and that the team’s mentality is to win, no matter the opponent.
A warning against complacency ahead of the second leg
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Alexander-Arnold was careful to stress that the tie is not finished. He described the 3-0 lead as “only half-time,” warning that celebrating too early would reflect the wrong mindset.
Real, he said, are aware of the history of dramatic matches between the two clubs and will not take anything for granted. The message was clear: the job is not done, and the approach for the return fixture will be to try to win again rather than protect what they have.
“We have seen crazy games between these two clubs before, so we can’t rule out anything,” he said, adding that Real will go to the Etihad with the intention of winning there as well.
High praise for Valverde: “the most underrated footballer on the planet”
Alexander-Arnold reserved some of his strongest words for Valverde, offering a detailed personal assessment that went beyond the goals scored on the night.
He said he had admired Valverde even while playing for Liverpool and called him “undoubtedly the most underrated footballer on the planet.” The praise focused on reliability and work rate as much as technical quality.
In Alexander-Arnold’s view, Valverde “covers every blade of grass” and gives everything to the team. He also highlighted what he described as a crucial attribute: being someone teammates can always count on. “He’s always there. He never lets us down,” Alexander-Arnold said.
He suggested that wider recognition may follow a performance like this, but added that, in his opinion, Valverde has belonged among the top bracket of midfielders for years.
What the 3-0 result means for the tie
Real Madrid’s three-goal advantage places them in a commanding position, but Alexander-Arnold’s comments emphasised that the club’s focus is on maintaining intensity and discipline rather than assuming progression is guaranteed.
For Manchester City, the outcome leaves little margin for error. The description of the situation as a “mountain to climb” reflects the scale of the challenge in the second leg, especially after a match in which City struggled to break down Real’s defensive unit and were punished by decisive finishing at the other end.
The tie now moves to the Etihad, where the dynamic may shift, but Real’s message from the first leg is that they intend to keep playing to win rather than manage the occasion.
Key points from Alexander-Arnold’s post-match message
Real Madrid used the underdog narrative as motivation and as a test of mentality.
Alexander-Arnold said Real executed their game plan perfectly in the first half and finished chances ruthlessly.
He stressed that injuries and absences were not treated as an excuse, given the club’s expectations in the competition.
He warned against complacency, describing the tie as “only half-time” and pointing to past dramatic meetings between the sides.
He praised Federico Valverde’s all-round impact, calling him the most underrated footballer and highlighting his reliability and work rate.
A night shaped by mentality, structure, and a standout finisher
The story of this first leg was not only the scoreline, but the way it was achieved: a dominant first half, a defensive display that limited City’s ability to find openings, and a midfield performance from Valverde that combined energy with end product.
Alexander-Arnold’s reflections framed the evening as a response to external expectations and a demonstration of what he sees as Real Madrid’s defining trait in the Champions League: a demand to win, regardless of who is missing, who is favoured, or what the noise suggests beforehand.
With the second leg still to come, Real’s stance, as articulated by Alexander-Arnold, is that the advantage is significant but not definitive. The emphasis remains on approach and mentality: no early celebrations, no assumptions, and an intention to go again in the return match.