Real comeback thanks to Benzema: "It's just unbelievable"

The legendary saying that belongs to the Real Madrid football myth is almost 40 years old: "90 minutes at the Bernabeu are very long." Juanito said it when the royal team needed a

, a Spanish comeback, in the European Cup.

At that time, the first leg in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup was lost 3-1 at Inter Milan.

The Real players weren't afraid, after all, the second game was still waiting in their home stadium.

And indeed, Madrid won 5-1 and made it to the final.

, the spirit of Juanito, has been spoken

of in such cases .

Tobias Rabe

Responsible editor for Sport Online.

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Sometimes, even in Madrid, 90 minutes is way too long.

Then a much shorter period of time is enough for one of those wondrous twists and turns in football, behind which of course there are no inexplicable magical powers.

On Wednesday evening, the spirit of Juanito once again blew through the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

After the 0-1 draw in the first leg at Paris Saint-Germain, after which everyone agreed that the Madrid team had come off much better than they deserved with this narrow defeat, they were also 0-1 in the second duel rear.

Like three weeks ago in France's capital, Kylian Mbappé scored the goal for Paris.

The world champion, whose contract expires after this season and who will probably move to Real on a free transfer, once again showed off his speed.

After Madrid lost the ball, things went quickly.

As so often, Mbappé lurked in left midfield, was sent with a vertical ball and was unstoppable.

He overcame goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who, like in the first leg, had made brilliant saves several times, with a shot into the short corner (39th minute).

In total it was 0:2, it was time for a

.

Paris had already had to experience one of these painfully.

A 4-0 win in the first leg was followed by a 1-6 draw at FC Barcelona.

That was 2017. Now it's 2022. And the Champions League history book gets another entry in the chapter of memorable comebacks.

It wasn't six goals that had to be scored like arch-rivals Barcelona five years ago, three were enough.

And it was because Karim Benzema experienced a great moment that lasted neither 60 nor 90 minutes.

17 minutes were enough for the Frenchman against his homeland opponent to turn the duel around.

In the 61st minute of the game, he benefited from a ball loss by Paris goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The Italian European champions stalled after a back pass and missed the ball when pressured by Benzema.

Strike partner Vinicius Junior grabbed the ball rolling across the penalty area and placed it on the lurking Benzema, who pushed in a few meters away.

The fans in the Bernabeu conversion project were back, a start had been made.

A Benzema header just missed the post (64'), but in the 76th minute it was 2-1 for Real.

Eight Paris players defended in the penalty area against three from Madrid.

But who cares about majorities in football when Luka Modric is on the ball and Karim Benzema is lurking?

The Croatian found the gap, the French completed from the turn, while Marquinhos also deflected the ball with his tackle in dire need.

The duel was even again, as the away goals rule, which would have seen Paris further advantage in this case, was abolished.

But nobody had to think about it for long, because Real was now intoxicated.

Less than two minutes after the 2:1 it was 3:1.

Vinicius lost the ball to Marquinhos, but the captain tipped it across the penalty area right at Benzema.

Not a good idea, at least not from Paris' point of view.

The striker took the right outside step and curled the ball straight into the goal.

David Alaba was thrilled with Benzema's ball art.

"I think he just showed again how important he is to us.

What qualities he brings is simply unbelievable," said the former Munich resident at DAZN.

Who needs a Mbappé when you've got Benzema?

For years, the Frenchman, who has played at Real since 2009, has been overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Only after his departure did he get the attention he deserved because of his class.

But Benzema is 34 years old, Mbappé 23. And who can miss a free transfer miracle striker who should shape the next few years?

But Benzema should stay a little longer and expand his statistics: he has scored at least once in the Champions League for 18 years now.

And sometimes even three times in 17 minutes.