Real Madrid and Manchester City played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Federico Valverde has acknowledged that Real Madrid will have to leverage their extensive Champions League pedigree to overcome Manchester City in the quarter-final stage.
The two footballing giants, who are facing off in the knockout rounds for the third year running, ended up with a gripping 3-3 stalemate in the first leg of their quarter-final clash at the Bernabeu last Tuesday.
Now, the team with a record-breaking 14 Champions League titles is gearing up for a formidable task as they aim to defeat the current champions on their own turf at the Etihad Stadium.
City's impressive track record of not losing a single one of their last 30 home games in the Champions League, dating back to September 2018, coupled with a resounding 4-0 victory over Real at the same venue the previous year, sets a high bar for the Spanish Club.
Valverde, whose stunning late volley salvaged the draw, expressed his belief in breaking the pattern: "There’s always a first time."
"You always have to believe, to have conviction, us especially. We are the first to believe it can be done."
"We have to work hard, every player has to give everything in every ball and if we all pull in the same direction I think we can do it."
"It’s very even. We’re two of the best in the Champions League. They have that plus of playing at home, but we’re going to fight, as we always do."
"We have lots of players who have won five Champions Leagues. We have to make that count."
Despite securing the draw, Valverde couldn't hide his disappointment at not taking a lead into the second leg, having been ahead at the break: "The draw feels like last year, like a defeat," the Uruguay international said. "It’s not a good result because we would have liked to win."