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.
Madrid join Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Manchester City into the quarterfinals of the competition.
“We wanted to see this stadium like the fans were today, we needed them, the win is for them, it was very difficult, we pushed until the end and we deserved to go through,” Benzema said in a postmatch.
“We lost the first leg, we were 1-0 down at half-time, it was a huge effort, the fans pushed us to give everything until the end. They’re Champions League games, it’s difficult. We know PSG like to have the ball. We started well, we had chances, we didn’t take them and they scored on the counter, but in the second half we played our game.
“When we press we can beat any team, it’s about pressing as a team, everyone in their position, and with the fans. Every game is a final for us, in the league and the Champions League. Today Real Madrid are alive.”
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.
