Karim Benzema Shines As Real Madrid Send PSG Out Of Race

Mbappe, in particular, was electric, racing on to a pass from Neymar to open the scoring against the team he is expected to join when his contract at PSG expires in the summer.

Karim Benzema scored a superb second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid staged a stirring comeback at the Bernabeu to defeat Paris St-Germain and advance to the Champions League quarter-finals.

PSG had a deserved two-goal aggregate lead thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s first-half goal, which appeared to have put Mauricio Pochettino’s side on track for the last eight.

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However, a blunder by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma set in motion a dramatic comeback, with Karim Benzema scoring after the Italian dallied in possession.

Luka Modric’s driving run and intricate pass set up Benzema’s second goal as he leveled the tie against a clearly panicked PSG, and as the visitors attempted to regroup, the 34-year-old drove a low effort into the bottom right corner seconds later to settle the tie.

PSG had been in complete control until Donnarumma’s error.

In midfield, Marco Verratti was slick and dominant, while Neymar and Lionel Messi worked themselves into dangerous positions as the hosts struggled to contain their more fluent opponents.

Mbappe, in particular, was electric, racing on to a pass from Neymar to open the scoring against the team he is expected to join when his contract at PSG expires in the summer.

On either side of that, the 23-year-old tormented Real’s defense, twice having goals correctly disallowed for offside but still displaying his predatory instincts.

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He also burst past Real Madrid’s Eder Militao, and only a brilliant covering challenge from David Alaba prevented him from adding to his tally.

Mbappe’s influence was such that when he got up after appearing to be hurt in the tackle, he received warm applause from the home crowd, but the real damage to his and PSG’s long-standing aspirations in the competition was yet to come.

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