Barcelona icon impressed by Real Madrid's intensity against Manchester City

FC Barcelona icon Thierry Henry said he was surprised by Real Madrid’s performance in their dominant victory over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.

The Madrid side won 3–0 in the first leg of the Round of 16, thanks to a spectacular performance by Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde, who scored a first-half hat-trick, giving the Spanish giants a big advantage before the return leg, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

After the match, former Barcelona star Henry admitted he was impressed by the level shown by their historic rivals.

“It hurts me to say it as a Barcelona supporter, but I have to congratulate them. It was a very good performance,” Henry said.

According to him, the Madrid side showed great intensity, organization and efficiency against the English champions, dominating the decisive moments of the match.

The match was played at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where Real Madrid managed to stop City’s dangerous attack and take their chances perfectly, securing a strong advantage ahead of the return leg in England.

The 3–0 victory puts Real Madrid very close to the Champions League quarterfinals, while Manchester City now faces a very difficult task to stage a comeback in the second leg.