Champions League: Benzema overthrows PSG, Real in the quarters

Karim Benzema, author of a hat-trick for Real Madrid against Paris Saint-Germain, in the Champions League, this March 9, 2022. REUTERS - SUSANA VERA

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

2 mins

Real Madrid qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League on March 9, 2022. The Spanish club beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1, thanks to a hat-trick from captain Karim Benzema.

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Terrible disappointment for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League (C1).

The French football club, owned by Qatar, hoped to finally win this competition in 2022, the year during which the emirate will organize the World Cup.

On the contrary, PSG left the C1 in the round of 16, this March 9.

Blame it on Real Madrid and its captain Karim Benzema, who eclipsed his young compatriot Kylian Mbappé on Wednesday evening.

An irresistible Kylian Mbappé

It is still unclear whether Mbappé will play next season with Benzema at Real.

But, in the meantime, the Parisian superstar mistreated the Madrid defense.

Scorer in the first leg, the striker did it again in the return match, this Wednesday evening.

After two low shots stopped by Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (8th, 13th) and a goal invalidated for offside (34th), he found the fault with a powerful flat foot.

Launched on the left by Brazilian striker Neymar, Mbappé put the French club on the royal road to the quarter-finals (0-1, 39th).

Irresistible, the 2018 world champion has fun with Courtois in the 54th minute, with an incredible stepping.

Launched again by Neymar, the center forward then slips the ball into the back of the net but is flagged offside.

Benzema's thundering reply

The public at the Santiago-Bernabeu Stadium swooned in front of the tricolor star.

He almost forgets that Real has another French crack in its ranks: Benzema.

At the hour mark, the Madrid number 9 comes to harass the Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The latter clears the ball awkwardly towards the Brazilian striker Vinicius.

The latter puts the ball back towards Benzema who equalizes: 1-1, 61st.

The Spanish team begins to believe in it, rightly.

In the 76th, thanks to a subtle pass from Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, the French beat Donnarumma once again, Brazilian defender Marquinhos deflecting his shot: 2-1.

A Marquinhos not at the end of his troubles.

In the seconds that follow, the Parisian captain also emerges as best he can, in the axis.

Benzema springs and propels the ball into the opposing cage: 3-1.

The three stabs of the Habs are fatal to PSG.

Real, the most successful club in the Champions League (13 crowns), continues the adventure.

The Parisian season has just turned into a fiasco.

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