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Mar 9, 2022 · Karim Benzema scored a superb second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid produced a stirring fightback at a raucous Bernabeu to reach the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Paris...
- Overview
- Deja vu for PSG in Europe
- Record-breaking Benzema saves Real
- Ancelotti: It was the magic of this stadium
- Poch: I'm upset - the next few weeks won't be easy
- When is the Champions League QF draw?
Karim Benzema's second-half hat-trick secured Real Madrid a place in the Champions League quarter-finals as they came back from 2-0 down on aggregate to win 3-2 and send Paris Saint-Germain crashing out of Europe.
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring to extend PSG's advantage from the first leg - after getting on the end of Neymar's first-time left-footed through ball - with a near-post finish (39) that Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could only get a touch on.
PSG were in cruise control at the Bernabeu until Real were offered a lifeline by Gianluigi Donnarumma, as Benzema forced him into a mistake in his own area before finishing off Vinicius Jr's cut back.
Benzema's deflected effort from close range levelled the tie after an intricate Luka Modric pass split the PSG defence, and just 10 seconds after the visitors kicked off, the Real captain completed his 17-minute hat-trick with a neat first-time finish following a poor clearance from Marquinhos as PSG crumbled again in Europe.
•How the teams lined up | Match stats
•Champions League fixtures | Results
PSG have been here before. Two goals ahead against Manchester United after the first leg in 2019, four goals ahead of Barcelona in 2017. This time it was half an hour left, with two goals to the good.
This was the fourth time out of nine that they have been knocked out of the Champions League when winning the first leg - only Real Madrid have done so more often (six times).
The mentality of their star-studded line-up was weak - perhaps scarred by the mistakes of the past - and they failed to recover after Donnarumma gifted Benzema his opener.
PSG players hardly had their head up after Benzema's second before he made it 3-1 on the night and gave Real the crucial goal to send them through.
The Qatari owners' search for a Champions League trophy goes on, even the addition of Lionel Messi in the summer could not get them beyond the last 16, with the former Barcelona man anonymous on his return to Spain.
What lies ahead for PSG remains uncertain, with big question marks over the future of head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Image: Benzema's goals against PSG saw him become Real Madrid's third-highest all-time goalscorer
With just 30 minutes left of tie, Real Madrid's fate looked sealed, and it felt inevitable that PSG would progress.
That all changed, though, with a moment of perseverance from 34-year-old Benzema, whose pressure forced Donnarumma into a mistake that proved to be the catalyst for an epic Champions League comeback.
His tenacity continued to drive Real forward as he put the ball in the net twice with just 10 seconds of open play separating the two goals.
It was a talismanic performance from the Frenchman, who took his place among Real Madrid royalty by overtaking Alfredo Di Stefano as the club's third-highest scorer, behind only Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo.
He also moves ahead of Raul (66) as Real's second-highest scorer in the Champions League on 67 goals, with only Ronaldo ahead (105).
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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti praised the Santiago Bernabeu crowd after they came from behind to beat PSG and secure a place in the Champions League quarter-finals
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said: "We suffered a lot in the first half, but we did it. We had trouble getting the ball. We tried to press... But it was a good press from Karim that brought us the first goal, and after that the magic of this stadium and these fans came with it."
Real Madrid forward Benzema said: "We needed the fans and this is for them. It was a very difficult game but we pushed until the end and we deserve the win.
"We lost the first leg, they went 1-0 up, but our fans pushed us to give everything right to the final whistle."
On his first goal, he added: "It's not a mistake [by Donnarumma]. It's pressure from the whole team."
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After going out of the Champions League, PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino says the momentum changed after Real Madrid's first goal, which he believed should not have stood
PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino said: "The first goal completely changed the game. For an hour, we were better than Real Madrid. The atmosphere changed in the stadium.
"We made some mistakes after that, we can't say we didn't. The worst feeling is that we were the better side, but we lost the tie in 10 minutes.
"Paris St-Germain have been chasing the Champions League for a number of years now. I'm really disappointed, upset - but these things can happen. The next few weeks are not going to be easy."
Image: "The next few weeks are not going to be easy," said PSG boss Pochettino
The Champions League quarter-final draw will take place on Friday, March 18 at 11am UK time, with the balls being drawn out at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
The semi-finals will be drawn at the same time, meaning clubs and fans can plot out their potential route to the Paris final.
Mar 9, 2022 · Karim Benzema struck a hat-trick as Real Madrid produced an incredible comeback against a shell-shocked PSG to win 3-2 on aggregate and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
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