Karim Benzema sparked Real Madrid’s miraculous comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after a dreadful error from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Italian shot-stopper, who won the Yashin Trophy as the world’s best goalkeeper in 2021, was caught on the ball by the striker inside his own six-yard box.
PSG were a goal to the good after an hour of the second leg, and 2-0 up on aggregate as the clock ticked on Real’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
But Donnarumma hesitated on the ball before a hopeful punt away from the onrushing Benzema, which only found Vinicius. The Brazilian’s cross back to his teammate was buried to give Los Blancos a sniff at a revival.
Real Madrid are back in it all thanks to the work rate of Karim Benzema 😤
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 9, 2022
Forces Donnarumma into a mistake then gets in the right position to finish!#UCL pic.twitter.com/9CpWZHOpU9
And Benzema punished the mistake with aplomb as he made it 2-1 to Real on the night, and all square on aggregate, after 76 minutes when he found space in the area to fire past Donnarumma again.
Within seconds of the kick-off, once again the Bernabeu erupted as Vinicius broke down the left and teed up Benzema to put Madrid ahead for the first time in the tie.
KARIM BENZEMA COMPLETES HIS HAT-TRICK!!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 9, 2022
Two goals in a minute! This game is insane 😱
Striker's instinct, what a brilliant finish!#UCL pic.twitter.com/KSpM3BvKyF
The hat-trick put the Frenchman on 30 goals for the season with a career total of 79 in the Champions League, a tally only bettered by Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
