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.

Federico Valverde has not been at his optimal fitness level in recent games, and understandably so given his hectic schedule and the fact that he is one of the players with the most minutes in the

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.