A spectacular mistake by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma cost Paris Saint-Germain their participation in the quarter-finals of the Champions League – and Real Madrid rolled out the red carpet. With the score at 1-0 for PSG, the Italian European champions frittered away a ball in their own six-yard box, conceded the interim equalizer from Karim Benzema – and thus brought a Real Madrid believed dead to life. Benzema followed up with two more goals and grew into the hero of the “Remontada”, the almost unreal comeback of the 13-time Champions League winners from Madrid. The troop from Paris, which has been reinforced by millions, has to wait for the first handle pot. And coach Mauricio Pochettino may soon be looking for a new job.
At the start of the game, one might have thought that the Bengalos, torched by Madrid Ultras outside the gates of the Bernabéu, would have had an inspiring effect on the hosts. Commanded by former Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Madrilenians went to great lengths to project aggressiveness; and above all: to attack higher than three weeks ago against the same opponent in Paris. The audience liked that, it did its part to offer the guests a kind of inferno. Alone: No matter how many seeds the Madrilenians sowed, they did not initially bring in a harvest. On the contrary.
Even the first action by the Parisians – a counterattack with a ruler across almost the entire square – had an intimidating effect. Because it started from a certain Lionel Messi, went through a certain Neymar Jr. and ended with a shot from Kylian Mbappé that Thibaut Courtois saved (8th minute). The taunts continued, interrupted by a fantastic flick from Benzema, which Donnarumma guided around the post with his fingertips. And then Mbappé got serious. The referee denied a first goal because the assist provider was offside, but then Mbappé hit it legally. After an excellent pass from the otherwise phlegmatic Neymar, he hit the goalkeeper’s corner with a low shot before David Alaba was able to challenge him (39′).
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After the break, the picture continued: PSG tried to stun Real Madrid with long periods of possession. But the French put themselves to sleep because Donnarumma was fooling himself. The Italian goalkeeper picked up a back pass near the six-yard box and flirted with the ball until Benzema snuck the ball away from him. Fellow striker Vinícius played it back to Benzema, who slotted it in to equalize.
“Sí, se puede/sí, se puede,” chanted the fans in the Bernabéu stadium, which had remained silent for a long time. It’s the Spanish version of “Yes, we can”. And how something went. A dream pass from Luka Modric through defender Kimpembe’s legs to Benzema was converted by the Frenchman to make it 2-1 (76′). And in the 78th minute, Benzema scored again. Messi, Neymar and Mbappé stayed on the center line. Confused, disbelieving, shocked. Benzema had thus turned the game, when Paris had considered victory or at least progression to be certain.
Real Madrid were through with that result; PSG eliminated. After another “remontada”, which was as painful as the 1: 6 at FC Barcelona in 2017. At that time, the victory resulted in the departure of the then Barcelona striker Neymar to Paris. This victory may also lead to a spectacular change: from Mbappé to Madrid.
