Real Madrid players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni have apologised for their dressing-room fight, manager Alvaro Arbeloa said on Saturday, urging his team to focus on Sunday's top-of-the-table clash with Barcelona.

According to reports the two players rowed on Wednesday in training and their argument continued on Thursday during and after the session.

Federico Valverde's sensational hattrick against Manchester City helped Real Madrid put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals, but his words after the game may prove more crucial still.

Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said his team surprised a lot of people who expected them to get "battered" by beating Manchester City 3-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Los Blancos were missing several key players including Kylian Mbappe but Uruguayan midfielder Valverde's stunning treble, netted inside a 22-minute spell, crushed Pep Guardiola's team at the Santiago Bernabeu.