Neymar, Messi, Mbappé – all no longer in the Champions League. After Kylian Mbappé’s lead in Paris, Karim Benzema turned the game around with three goals in the second half.
Hat-trick scorer Karim Benzema has decided the Champions League giant duel and makes Real Madrid dream of the coronation. The outstanding French striker secured the Spanish record champions a 3-1 (0-1) win against Paris Saint-Germain with three goals within 17 minutes and entry into the quarter-finals. PSG won the first leg 1-0.
Kylian Mbappé, which was initially the very bad news for Real at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, got fit in time and completed the dream storm again with Lionel Messi and Neymar. The world champion quickly had dangerous shots due to his explosiveness, his first goal (34th) was annulled due to an offside position, as was another later (54th). Once, however, he struck regularly into the short goalkeeper corner (39th), Real defender David Alaba had delivered the long corner for Thibaut Courtois.
Benzema (62′) then equalized after a mistake by Paris goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Then Benzema, who couldn’t be stopped at all, scored two more goals (76’/78′). For PSG and its Qatari investors, the pursuit of the title remains unfulfilled. Although Paris was superior, had much more possession of the ball, but at the same time remained extremely vulnerable defensively.
Benzema in particular knew how to use this again and again for good chances – for example he headed just wide of the goal after a cross from the last injured 2014 world champion Toni Kroos (37th). The Real resistance was cracked by the deficit, so the big pressure only came after the 1:1. However, Mbappé remained a constant threat in the hosts’ penalty area, who have been said to be very interested in signing the exceptional striker for months. He was outdone by Benzema this time.
