Karim Benzema scored a second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid came from a goal down to book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-1 win over PSG on Wednesday night, 3-2 on aggregate.
The French giants led 1-0 from the first leg played a fortnight ago at the Le Parc des Princes, and came close to getting the job done in front of thousands of home fans.
Kylian Mbappe gave PSG the lead minutes before half-time, but Madrid turned the match on its head as in-form Benzema scored three times in the second period to claim a memorable win.
The match got off to a lightning start with the hosts, backed by the fans, went all out for the first early goal that could have given them hope.
Despite their promising start, it was the visitors, led by the attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, who threatened first and came close to taking the lead just before the quarter-hour mark.
Mbappe produced a good strike that sailed to the bottom left corner, but the goalkeeper showed great reflexes and dived to keep the effort from hitting the net.
Midway through the first half, Benzema managed to run onto a rebound and unleashed a piledriver from distance, forcing Gigi Donnarruma into a good finger-tip save.
Messi then got a chance to give PSG the lead on the half-hour mark when he was put through on goal by Neymar, but his efforts flashed past the post as Madrid made a clearance.
Mbappe then thought he had given his side the opener in the 34th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
The Frenchman finally got his name on the scoresheet just before the break, finishing powerfully at the near post.
With a 2-0 aggregate lead, the visitors started the second half in perfect control, creating chances at will as the hosts retreated.
Mbappe scored yet again just before the hour-mark, but his strike was ruled out for offside once again.
Madrid’s comeback started on the 61st minute when a mistake from the goalkeeper allowed the lurking Benzema the chance to score, and he took it to halve the deficit on aggregate.
Vinicius Junior wasted a glorious chance in the 73rd minute as his effort went flew inches of the crossbar after he got on to a rebound.
Two minutes later, Benzema created some space for himself inside the box and powerfully found the back of the net from Luka Modric’s ball.
Before PSG could respond, another poor defending allowed Benzema to complete his hat-trick in spectacular fashion, sending the fans at the Bernabeu into a delirium.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side held on for the win, ending PSG’s dream of making it into the last eight.
They join Liverpool, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
