Real Madrid 3-1 Paris St-Germain (3-2 agg): Karim Benzema hat-trick inspires superb Real fightback

Karim Benzema is the first player from France to score three Champions League/European Cup hat-tricks

Karim Benzema scored a superb second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid produced a stirring fightback at a raucous Bernabeu to reach the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Paris St-Germain.

Kylian Mbappe's first-half goal had given PSG a deserved two-goal aggregate lead and looked to have put Mauricio Pochettino's side well on course for the last eight.

However, a mistake by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma proved the catalyst for a dramatic recovery with Benzema turning home after the Italian dawdled in possession.

Luka Modric's driving run and intricate pass made Benzema's second as he levelled the tie against a clearly panicked PSG, and as the visitors attempted to regroup the 34-year-old drove a low effort into the bottom right corner seconds after the restart to settle the tie.

Until Donnarumma's error PSG had been in complete control.

Marco Verratti was slick and dominant in midfield, while Neymar and Lionel Messi worked themselves into some dangerous positions as the hosts struggled to contain their more fluent opponents.

Mbappe in particular was electric, racing on to a pass from Neymar to open the scoring against the side he has been heavily tipped to join in the summer when his contract at PSG expires.

Either side of that the 23-year-old tormented the Real defence, twice having goals correctly disallowed for offside but showing his predatory instincts nonetheless.

A surge of acceleration also saw him burst past Real's Eder Militao and only a brilliant covering challenge from David Alaba prevented him from adding to his tally.

Mbappe's influence was such that he received warm applause from the home support as he got up after appearing to be hurt in a tackle, but the real damage to his and PSG's long-standing aspirations in the competition were still to come.

More to follow.

Player of the match

BenzemaKarim Benzema

Real Madrid

Squad number9Player nameBenzema

Squad number10Player nameModric

Squad number20Player nameVinícius Júnior

Squad number25Player nameCamavinga

Squad number21Player nameRodrygo

Squad number8Player nameKroos

Squad number17Player nameLucas Vázquez

Squad number4Player nameAlaba

Squad number15Player nameValverde

Squad number11Player nameAsensio

Squad number3Player nameEder Militão

Squad number2Player nameCarvajal

Squad number6Player nameNacho

Squad number1Player nameCourtois

Paris Saint Germain

Squad number7Player nameMbappé

Squad number30Player nameMessi

Squad number6Player nameVerratti

Squad number10Player nameNeymar

Squad number2Player nameHakimi

Squad number25Player nameNuno Mendes

Squad number15Player nameDanilo Pereira

Squad number8Player nameParedes

Squad number5Player nameMarquinhos

Squad number3Player nameKimpembe

Squad number50Player nameG Donnarumma

Squad number27Player nameGueye

Squad number23Player nameDraxler

Squad number11Player nameDi María

Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

1Courtois

2Carvajal3Militão4Alaba6Nacho

15Valverde8Kroos10Modric

11Asensio9Benzema20Vinícius Júnior

1Courtois2CarvajalBooked at 60minsSubstituted forVázquezat 66'minutesBooked at 88mins3Militão4Alaba6NachoBooked at 43mins15Valverde8KroosSubstituted forCamavingaat 57'minutes10Modric11AsensioSubstituted forRodrygoat 57'minutes9Benzema20Vinícius JúniorBooked at 44mins

Substitutes

5Vallejo7E Hazard12Marcelo13Lunin16Jovic17Vázquez18Bale19Ceballos21Rodrygo22Isco24Mariano25Camavinga

PSG

Formation 4-3-3

50G Donnarumma

2Hakimi5Marquinhos3Kimpembe25Tavares Mendes

15Danilo8Paredes6Verratti

30Messi10Neymar7Mbappé

50G DonnarummaBooked at 61mins2HakimiBooked at 81minsSubstituted forDraxlerat 88'minutes5Marquinhos3KimpembeBooked at 83mins25Tavares Mendes15DaniloSubstituted forDi Maríaat 80'minutes8ParedesBooked at 7minsSubstituted forGueyeat 71'minutes6Verratti30Messi10Neymar7Mbappé