UEFA Champions League: Real Madrid advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League as Karim Benzema scored a hat-trick in the second half of the second leg against PSG at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Madrid, trailing 0-1 from the first leg, were on the verge of elimination when Kylian Mbappe added to his score in Paris by scoring in the first half. However, a blunder by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed Benzema to restore parity for the 13-time champions in the 61st minute, giving Carlo Ancelotti’s side a ray of hope.
Benzema scored two more goals in a frantic 17-minute span as a star-studded PSG team, including Mbappe and colleagues Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr, fell short yet again in Europe’s best club championship.
Karim Benzema struck a breath-taking hat-trick for Real Madrid on Wednesday, upsetting Kylian Mbappe and knocking Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League in the last 16.
Madrid looked ready to be the latest victims of another Mbappe masterclass at the Santiago Bernabeu as the 23-year-old dragged them for nearly an hour before firing home to put PSG 1-0 up on the night and 2-0 up on aggregate.
Benzema took advantage of a mistake by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to score an astonishing double in under two minutes, the third coming just eight seconds after PSG had set off.
After achieving one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the club’s recent history, many of Madrid’s players sank to their knees and stared up to the sky, maybe as much in disbelief as ecstasy, when the full-time whistle announced their 3-2 aggregate victory.
All eyes were on Mbappe, who was the only player to receive a standing ovation from Madrid fans before the game, as they were given an up-close look at the man they hope to sign this summer.
Mbappe came through with a fantastic goal, as well as a captivating second goal that was disallowed for offside when he bamboozled Thibaut Courtois with a stunning dummy-finish.
It’s possible he wasn’t even 100 per cent here after a knock in training on Monday put his participation in jeopardy.
What appeared to be a demonstration of the world’s deadliest player, however, turned into yet another incredible European night for Real Madrid, who once again showed why they regard this as their competition.
Madrid made it apparent from the start that they planned to attack PSG hard, with Dani Carvajal leaping and flailing his fists at the crowd in an attempt to create a ruckus.
It worked for a moment, with Vinicius Junior racing down the left flank and Fede Valverde bulldozing through Mbappe, but it was only a temporary boost. Madrid’s momentum was snuffed out by PSG, who pushed them back and gained complete control.
In the eighth minute, Mbappe sped clear for the first time as Neymar curled a ball into the gap on the left. The stadium gasped, Mbappe made space, but this time he collided with Courtois.
Madrid slowed down but did not relinquish control. Mbappe snuck past Eder Militao, and Courtois came to the rescue. Neymar had a chance after a great interplay between Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti, but Courtois was there to save him.
PSG was at ease now, controlling play and sensing the nervousness. Madrid had chances, with Benzema curling narrowly wide, but they appeared slower, heavier, and more ponderous all over the pitch.
For football match, football score, football result, football goals, football live update and other football news follow livematchupdatesnews.com.
