Karim Benzema scores hat-trick against PSG

Karim Benzema became the oldest player in UEFA Champions League history to score a hat-trick. Real Madrid overturned a 2-0 deficit to reach the UCL quarterfinals for the seventh time in seven years after he scored three goals in an hour.

After Real Madrid stunned Paris Saint-Germain with a second-half comeback to win the match 3-2 on aggregate, Karim Benzema dedicated a record-breaking night to Real Madrid fans.

The France international scored a hat trick in 17 minutes, including two goals in two minutes, to pass Alfredo Di Stefano for third place on the LaLiga club’s all-time scoring record.

Benzema’s treble brought his season tally to 27 and his total for Madrid to 309 goals, while at 34, he also became the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League, ensuring Kylian Mbappe’s opener at the Bernabeu proved insignificant in the end.

After 11 years under Qatari ownership and more than $1 billion in transfers, PSG’s hunt for a maiden Champions League trophy continues. Benzema’s third Champions League hat trick began in the 61st minute, thanks to a mistake by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

In the 76th and 78th minutes, he scored two more goals to give the side a 3-2 aggregate victory. Madrid advanced to the final eight for the second season in a row after being eliminated in the round of 16 the previous two seasons.

PSG, on the other hand, had made it through the round of 16 the previous two seasons, losing the final to Bayern Munich in 2020 and being defeated in the semifinals by Manchester City in 2021.

Guardiola gave a Champions League debut to Conrad Egan-Riley at right-back while Gabriel Jesus led the line-his first minutes since February 26.

 The Cityzens were unable to add to their 5-0 lead from the first leg but Pep Guardiola’s side progressed nonetheless