REAL MADRID sensationally knocked PSG out of the Champions League thanks to a 17-minute second-half hat-trick from Karim Benzema.
Kylian Mbappe put PSG 2-0 up in the tie in the first half and looked set for the quarter-finals before Benzema stepped up and scored three times to send Pochettino’s side out of the competition.
- RESULT: Real Madrid 3-1 PSG (3-2 on aggregate)
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Aalaba, Nacho, Kroos, Benzema, Modric, Asensio, Valverde, Vinicius Jr
- PSG XI: Donnarumma, Nuno Mendes, Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Hakimi, Danilo, Veratti, Paredes, Messi, Neymar, Mbappe
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Form is temporary, class permanent
Karim Benzema has now scored 212 goals in 407 appearances.
In his thirteenth year as a Madrid player, still showing the ability to win a game single-handedly at 34 years of age.
Underrated, overlooked, ignore him at your own peril.
Crown of thorns
Whoever takes the position of manager at PSG, they don a crown of thorns and drink from a poisoned chalice daily.
Due to the money spent by the club, success is demanded.
Pochettino may win all the domestic honours but that is considered not good enough from their owners.
French surrender dominance
Until the Donnarumma error that led to the first Madrid goal, there looked absolutely no danger of Pochettino’s team not progressing to the quarter finals.
That one mistake seemed to cause the French giants to buckle.
Marquinhos sealed their fate with two errors gifting Benzema a chance to put his name up in lights once again.
Karim of the crop
All the talk before this game was of Kylian Mbappe and how he was the future of Real Madrid and would be arriving in the summer.
It seems Madrid already had a French striker who is not willing to give up his place so easily.
Benzema has now scored 30 goals already so far this season for Los Blancos.
Kamikaze French display
PSG collapsed in the second-half like a house of cards.
Although the manager will no doubt pay the price with his job as is always the case in these situations, these players need to have a long, hard look at themselves.
They are left wanting time and time again on the big stage.
FT: Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
The referee brings the game to a close.
This was a tale of two Frenchman.
Karim Benzema came out on top.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
90+3. There doesn’t seem any time left for PSG to change this scoreline.
Soon to be Man Utd manager favourite Mauricio Pochettino stands on the touchline looking stunned or maybe he is wondering how much stuff he has to clear from his desk.
Unbelievable collapse.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
90+1. Am pretty sure the referee just awarded Vinicius Junior a foul for standing on the football.
Nothing is going to surprise me tonight.
PSG will not be able to work this one out tonight.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
90. We will have four minutes of added time.
A couple of professional fouls by Madrid in the last few minutes.
By that I mean clipping players ankles who are though on goal.
Messi stands over the free kick and bends it just over the top of the bar.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
88. Mbappe runs towards the Madrid goal before his heels are clipped and he goes to ground.
The referee awards the French a free kick but the delivery is poor and Real Madrid counter-attack.
Brilliant run by Vazquez to the byline, the ball comes out to Modric who looks for the top corner.
Inches wide.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
86. The clock ticks down, PSG’s plight becomes more desperate.
Mbappe looks stunned whenever the camera pans onto him.
He must be contemplating joining a side who can defend.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
84. This is all Real Madrid at the moment.
The need for a PSG goal is leaving more holes and space for the home side.
Rodrygo is brought down just outside the box in centre of the goal.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
82. Madrid are just drawing fouls from PSG and running the clock down.
The more possession they get, the more it frustrates the French side.
Vinicius Junior breaks away down the left again.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
80. We are into the final ten minutes of the game.
This has been turned on its head this game.
Hakimi gets a yellow card for a late challenge.
PSG are on the rocks now, much like Pochettino’s job.
Real Madrid 3-1 PSG
77. What is Marquinhos doing?
The Brazilian defender has turned into Mr Bean in the space of ten minutes.
He gifts the ball into the path of Benzema who strikes the ball first time into the back of the net.
Santiago Bernabeu erupts!
Goal – Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid 2-1 PSG
76. Modric slides a pass through the legs of Marquinhos.
Benzema controls it with one touch and then hits it.
Great goal.
Goal – Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid 1-1 PSG
75. Madrid and PSG seem to be well equipped with self-destruct buttons.
Either side are able to look completely in control of a game before imploding is some bizarre fashion.
Anything could happen in these final 15 minutes.
Real Madrid 1-1 PSG – Vinicius Junior chance!
73. What a chance for the Madrid man.
Some terrible defending by PSG results in the deflection into the path of the offside Vinicius Junoir.
As the ball has come to him from a PSG defender the rule does not apply.
How he puts the ball over the bar from yards out will haunt his dreams this evening.
Real Madrid 1-1 PSG
71. For the sentimental football fans, this brings back some memories.
Neymar slowly taking a corner as the home fans jeer.
PSG are looking to kill the game off with ‘keep-ball’.
Real Madrid 1-1 PSG
69. The Madrid fans whistle and boo as PSG retain possession.
They edge towards Courtois’ goal as Neymar draws the foul from Militao.
Quick feet from the Brazlian drawing the challenge.
Real Madrid 1-1 PSG
67. There are a few players now on yellow cards that need to be careful.
PSG were so comfortable until Donnarumma lost the plot.
Was a definite moment to put the ball in row Z then.
Real Madrid 1-1 PSG
65. Corner to Real Madrid is swung in by Modric but it is too close to the PSG keeper who punches clear.
Militao heads the ball back to Vinicius Junior who spins to get a shot away that is saved by Donnarumma.
The whistle goes as Militao had fouled his man.
Real Madrid 1-1 PSG – Benzema chance!
63. The ball is crossed in and Benzema beats Marquinhos in the air.
He heads the ball down heading Donnarumma scrambling for his far post.
The header goes inches wide.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
