Real Madrid pulled off one of the great Champions League comebacks on Wednesday as Karim Benzema scored a breath-taking hat-trick to upstage Kylian Mbappe and dump Paris Saint-Germain out in the last 16.
Madrid was set to be the latest victims of another Mbappe masterclass at the Santiago Bernabeu after the 23-year-old ran them ragged for the best part of an hour and fired in to put PSG 1-0 up on the night, 2-0 ahead on aggregate.
But Madrid came storming back as Benzema capitalised on a mistake by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and then scored an incredible double in two minutes, the third coming just eight seconds after PSG had kicked off.
When the full-time whistle confirmed their 3-2 aggregate victory, many of Madrid’s players dropped to their knees and looked up to the sky, as much perhaps in disbelief as joy, after completing one of the most memorable turnarounds in the club’s recent history.
All eyes were on Mbappe, who was the only player to receive a standing ovation from Madrid fans before to the game, as they were given an up-close look at the man they hope to sign this summer.
Mbappe came through with a fantastic goal, as well as a captivating second goal that was disallowed for offside when he bamboozled Thibaut Courtois with a stunning dummy-finish.
It's possible he wasn't even 100 percent here after a knock in training on Monday put his participation in jeopardy.
What appeared to be a demonstration of the world's deadliest player, however, turned into yet another incredible European night for Real Madrid, who once again shown why they regard this as their competition.
Madrid made it apparent from the start that they planned to attack PSG hard, with Dani Carvajal leaping and flailing his fists at the crowd in an attempt to create a ruckus.
It worked for a moment, with Vinicius Junior racing down the left flank and Fede Valverde bulldozing through Mbappe, but it was only a temporary boost. Madrid's momentum was snuffed out by PSG, who pushed them back and gained complete control.
In the eighth minute, Mbappe sped clear for the first time as Neymar curled a ball into the gap on the left. The stadium gasped, Mbappe made space, but this time he collided with Courtois.
Madrid dropped off but ceded control. Mbappe nipped past Eder Militao and Courtois saved. A lovely interchange between Lionel Messi and Marco Verratti gave Neymar a sight of goal but Courtois was there again.
PSG were comfortable now, dictating the play and sensing the trepidation. Madrid had openings, Benzema curling just wide, but all over the pitch they looked slower, heavier, more cumbersome.
