That was the case in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie — when Federico Valverde almost entirely nullified Atleti’s plan down the left.

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has provided an update on the wellbeing of midfield standout Federico Valverde.Valverde, for his part, of course, marked his return to action in midweek.After

Federico Valverde had long been a cornerstone of Real Madrid's setup under Carlo Ancelotti, blending tactical importance with a physical resilience that seemed unbreakable.