Benzema leads Real Madrid comeback over PSG

Sports Desk, Mar 9 (EFE).- Real Madrid were trailing 0-2 on aggregate Wednesday an hour into the second leg of their Champions League knockout stage tie with Paris Saint-Germain when Karim Benzema exploded for three goals to put the Blancos in the quarterfinals.

In Manchester, meanwhile, City drew 0-0 with Sporting to advance to the final eight 5-0 on aggregate.

Despite having won the competition a record 13 times, Real Madrid have only come back to win in the round of 16 after a loss in the first leg on four occasions, most recently in 2016 against Wolfsburg.

PSG looked to have a firm grip on the contest when Kylian Mbappe – widely expected to join Real Madrid in the summer transfer window – doubled their advantage with a goal in the 39th minute.

Mbappe scored again in the 54th minute, but the goal was disallowed for an offside, and the Blancos’ rebound got under way just after the hour mark thanks to Benzema, who exploited a giveaway by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The French international leveled the tie at 2-2 in the 76th minute and produced the go-ahead goal just two minutes later.

Lionel Messi fired over the cross-bar on an opportunity to force extra-time and PSG’s first Champions League title has been delayed by at least another year.

Manchester City, the reigning runners-up in Europe’s elite club competition, are through to the quarterfinals for the fifth straight season.

Pep Guardiola’s men started the game at the Etihad with a 5-0 advantage from the first leg in Lisbon and little to fear from Sporting.

Though both sides created opportunities, the only goal – by City’s Gabriel Jesus – was called back for offside. EFE

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