Mueez Ajao
– Karim Benzema produced a memorable hat trick as Real Madrid completed a stunning comeback to dump Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League.
– Kylian Mbappe’s first-half strike put PSG in the driving seat with a 2-0 aggregate lead but Benzema scored three goals after the break as Madrid claimed a 3-2 aggregate victory.
– The result continues PSG’s heartbreak in the Champions League as they suffered another collapse from a winning position after losing to Barcelona and Manchester United in recent years.
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– Madrid join Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Manchester City into the quarterfinals of the competition.
– Both teams started brightly but it was PSG who enjoyed the early chances and Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to deny Mbappe on two occasions.
– After 25 minutes, Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a stunning fingertip save from Benzema’s long-range effort.
– Less than 10 minutes later, Mbappe thought he had given the visitors the lead on the night but his goal was ruled out with Nuno Mendes in an offside position.
– Madrid were unable to prevent Mbappe from opening the scoring five minutes later when he beat the offside trap and slotted the ball past Courtois.
– Shortly after the break, Mbappe thought he had scored again but his stunning finish was disallowed for offside once more.
– Just after the hour mark, Benzema capitialsed on Donnarumma’s poor error to make it 1-1 on the night.
– Vinicius Junior had a great chances to level the scores on aggregate 10 minutes later but blazed his close-ranged shot over the bar.
– Benzema made no mistake minutes later to make it 2-2 aggregate and seconds afterwards, he completed a sensational hat trick when Madrid punished PSG’s slopiness from kickoff.
