💫 Benzema hits hat-trick as dramatic Real comeback knocks out PSG | OneFootball

There were two more huge Champions League knockout ties to enjoy on Wednesday night, including the conclusion to Real Madrid and PSG.

Here’s what went down on a dramatic night in Europe’s elite competition.

Benzema hat-trick inspires dramatic Real comeback

Scorers: Benzema 61′, 76′, 78′; Mbappé 39′.

Karim Benzema scored a second half hat-trick to inspire a remarkable Real Madrid comeback and knock out Paris Saint-Germain on a dramatic night at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The story was all about whether Kylian Mbappé would make it pre-match after the 23-year-old picked up an injury in training on Monday but the forward was passed fit and he seemingly put the game in PSG’s control with his 39th-minute opener.

Neymar’s first-time pass set Mbappé away before he paced into the box and beat Thibaut Courtois at the near post with powerful right-footed finish.

The French golden boy was the story of the first three quarters of this tie but it was his international teammate who would write the final chapter.

First, the Frenchman closed down Gianluigi Donnarumma forcing the goalkeeper to clear the ball into the path of Vinícius Junior, who then played the ball back for the 34-year-old to slot home.

Benzema then levelled the tie in the 76th minute with a clinical finish from eight yards out after a sublime defence-splitting pass from Luka Modrić following a driving run through midfield from the Croatian.

The home crowd had barely stopped celebrating from the equaliser when suddenly they found themselves in front for the first time.

Marquinhos, under pressure from Vinícius, directed a wayward pass across goal with Benzema reacting first to poke into the bottom corner with an instinctive first-time finish.

The comeback was completed as Real and Benzema head through while PSG crash out at the last-16 stage for the first time sine 2019.

City get the job done at the Etihad

Manchester City went into the second leg of their clash with the Portuguese champions with one-foot already in the quarter-finals after their 5-0 win in Lisbon.

And they got completed the job in Manchester, with Pep Guardiola even managing to hand a substitute appearance to veteran goalkeeper Scott Carson.

Gabriel Jesus thought he had added to the scoreline at the start of the second half with a clever near-post finish before a VAR check ruled the goal for offside.

But it’s a safe passage into the last-eight for City after their stunning performance in Portugal.