The last time Federico Valverde played Bayern Munich, he had a pretty average tie and his team came within seconds of elimination from the 2024 UEFA Champions League semifinal. In Valverde's last outing at the Santiago Bernabéu, a fortnight ago, he was red carded, left his team with ten men in the Madrid Derbi but had previously scored and, eventually, watched Los Blancos beat Atlético Madrid 3-2.
However, the last time the Uruguay international played Champions League football at Real Madrid, HQ he produced the match of his life, arguably the performance of the entire European season -- any player, any club. Valverde crashed in a genuinely stunning, stuff-of-dreams 22-minute hat trick against Manchester City to give Álvaro Arbeloa's team by far the best result of their season.
Because of that domestic suspension as a result of the Derbi dismissal, the 27-year-old wasn't available for Madrid's damaging defeat on the island of Mallorca at the weekend. No Valverde, no victory.
Now he's back. Immense responsibility on his shoulders, the prospect of goals in his boots (8 of them plus 12 assists this season) and the No. 8 on his back.
Last time he faced Bayern, Valverde's squad number was 15.
The change signifies two things: Toni Kroos, all-time Madrid (and Bayern) legend, has retired, leaving vacant not only his shirt number but huge amounts of brainpower, inspiration, match control and authority. Valverde, in the darkest of times for the squad, has stepped forward, grabbing both the number and the responsibility.