Valverde's first-half hat trick serves Real Madrid a 3-0 win over Manchester City

There was an uncertainty among Real Madrid fans before Wednesday's UEFA Champions League first-leg match against Manchester City in the round of 16.

The Spanish powerhouse has a new and untested coach who recently lost two La Liga games in a row, and last weekend required a last-minute deflection to beat Celta Vigo.

Federico Valverde dispelled their doubts in a scintillating first 45 minutes, scoring a sublime hat trick en route to Madrid's 3-0 victory at home.

Valverde completed a quick counterattack and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma with a deft touch to score the opener after 20 minutes.

He ran on to a pass from Vinicius Junior and then fired home a low shot with his weaker left foot seven minutes later to make it 2-0.

The Uruguay midfielder saved the best for last, taking Brahim Diaz's clever chip and then knocking it over the outstretched leg of Marc Guéhi before volleying past Donnarumma to make it 3-0 three minutes before halftime.

The home fans chanted his name as the teams walked off.

"You dream of nights like this," he told broadcaster Movistar before adding that this was perhaps his greatest performance in all white. "I had fun tonight. It's been a long time since I enjoyed a game like I did this one."

The win capped what has been a remarkable few months for the 27-year-old Uruguayan. Valverde has been a versatile and reliable figure for Madrid this turbulent season and particularly since the turn of the year.

He has remained a solid and reliable presence at midfield or full back, missing only one Champions League match and one La Liga game all season.

That dependability is priceless for Alvaro Arbeloa. Even better news for the new coach is Valverde appears to be hitting peak form.

"It doesn't matter where you play him," Arbeloa said. "He is the reference point. Fede Valverde is everything a Real Madrid player should be."

In other competitions, the defending champions Paris Saint-Germain crushed Chelsea 5-2, getting their revenge for the 3-0 loss in the FIFA Club World Cup final last summer.

Bodo/Glimt continued their magical journey by cruising past Sporting CP 3-0, putting themselves in the driving seat for the quarterfinals.

Arsenal saw their eight-match winning streak come to an end after 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.