Introduction
Karim Benzema’s second-half hat-trick turned the tie against Paris Saint-Germain on its head in one of the most remarkable games in the history of the Champions League.
Kylian Mbappe has succeeded in the first half with one goal, while he could even have doubled the lead if not for an offside.
Despite a two-goal lead on aggregate, PSG played ole football with only a few minutes remaining. In the 73rd minute, Paris striker Benzema scored what appeared to be his second goal of the night; a clever dummy from French winger Lucas Moura led to an overpowering finish from Benzema. However, Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made history as he allowed the goal, eventually giving Real Madrid one more chance for victory.
In the 77th minute, Benzema equalized with a shot after receiving a through ball from Modric. Straight from the kickoff, Benzema scored again, winning Real Madrid.
The goal came from PSG’s inability to keep the ball, and for scoring in 16 minutes, it was an uncontested build-up.
History will remember the night of the UEFA Champions League Semifinal when PSG and Real Madrid battled, not only for the second spot in the Final Four but a spot in history.
Taking points
The end for Poch at PSG – Mauricio Pochettino cannot survive this. It would always be rigid moulding a team from many superstars, and he seemed to have done this for the first three-quarters of this tie. Their organization and character fell apart when challenged in the second half. But, to be fair, there were warnings. In the first half, Marquinhos, the team captain, twice could have given away goals when sloppy around his area, on one occasion with an errant backheel 12 yards from the plan. In the end, it was Donnarumma’s gross error that got Real Madrid back into the game, and from this point, PSG looked hapless in defence. Any ball over the top was easy for Vinicius Jr to get onto, and traffic cones could have replaced both centre backs. There was no leadership at the back or in midfield. As great as Messi, Mbappe, and Neymar are, they are not leaders, and there was no one taking responsibility when things started to go wrong. To let a goal in 10.5 seconds after they kicked off is incredibly embarrassing in park football, let alone at this level. It is hard to get these players to buy into the team culture, but Pochettino was charged with it, failing.
 MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
34′Â GOAL FOR PSG – DISALLOWED! Kimpembe played a lovely ball over the top for Mendes, who pulled back for Mbappe, and he fired in at the near post off the woodwork. The PSG full-back was a fraction offside, though.
39′Â GOAL FOR PSG! This one will count, an acceptable pass-through from Neymar into an area of space behind the Real Madrid defence. Mbappe slams a shot inside the near post, which has much power for Courtois even though he got a hand on it.
54′Â GOAL FOR PSG – DISALLOWED! What a shame, Neymar played in Mbappe, who then did the most outrageous leg-over dummy leaving Courtois scrambling and before going around him and into the net. Sadly, he was offside.
61′Â GOAL FOR REAL MADRID! What an error. Donnarumma dallying in possession, and Benzema forced a bad pass which went straight to Vinicius Jr, who pulled back for the French striker who slotted home.
74′Â WHAT A CHANCE FOR VINICIUS! Benzema tried to play over to Rodrygo, but Kimpembe’s block fell straight to Vinicius, and he blazed over the bar. He had to do better.
77′ GOAL FOR REAL MADRID! Benzema scores again. Modric played through Vinicius, and though the PSG defenders came back to block him, he got the ball back across to Modric. He slid a great ball through Benzema, whose effort deflected slightly off Marquinhos and past Donnarumma.
