Karim Benzema scores hat trick, Madrid rally to oust PSG from Champions League

Karim Benzema scored a hat trick in lower than 20 minutes within the second half Wednesday as Real Madrid got here from behind to defeat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappe had opened the scoring within the first half to extend PSG’s combination lead after the France striker additionally netted in stoppage time to safe a 1-0 first-leg win in Paris.

Benzema evened the match on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium within the 61st after a blunder by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, then scored once more within the 76th and 78th minutes to present the 13-time European champions a 3-2 combination win. Madrid reached the final eight for the second straight season after consecutive eliminations within the spherical of 16, whereas PSG didn’t stay as much as the large expectations after including Lionel Messi to its star-studded group this season.

Real Madrid’s David Alaba celebrates with Karim Benzema, proper, who scored his facet’s first purpose throughout the Champions League, spherical of 16, second leg match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain on the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

PSG, in search of its first Champions League title, had superior previous the spherical of 16 the final two seasons, shedding the ultimate to Bayern Munich in 2020 and being eradicated by Manchester City within the semifinals in 2021.

Madrid eradicated PSG at this stage in 2018 en path to its third straight title within the competitors.

In the opposite last-16 match on Wednesday, Manchester City superior previous Sporting Lisbon 5-0 on combination after a scoreless attract England.

PSG appeared in management after Mbappe, who had been uncertain to play after choosing up a knock in coaching on Monday, scored within the thirty ninth after amassing a protracted move by Neymar and making a run into the world earlier than firing a low shot previous goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

It was the twenty seventh Champions League purpose for the 23-year-old France ahead with PSG, leaving him three shy of Edinson Cavani’s membership file within the competitors. He has scored 14 targets in his final 14 Champions League appearances.

Mbappe had already had a couple of probabilities earlier than opening the scoring, together with a purpose disallowed for offside within the build-up. He additionally had one purpose known as again for a similar cause within the second half.

Neymar and Lionel Messi additionally threatened for PSG after Madrid regarded in management early.

Vinicius Junior and Benzema threatened probably the most for Madrid, and the French striker scored the equalizer off a move from Vinicius after Donnarumma gave the ball away whereas being pressured by Benzema inside the world.

Benzema added the second after a move from Luka Modric and a few minutes later sealed the group’s spot within the quarterfinals with a one-time end after one other run by Vinicius down the left flank.

Madrid was with out Ferland Mendy and Casemiro due to yellow-card suspensions, however Toni Kroos began after being uncertain due to muscle damage. Federico Valverde changed Casemiro, whereas Nacho Fernandez began at left again as a substitute of veteran Marcelo.