Ronaldo-inspired Real claim victory to end PSG's European dream

The atmosphere in Paris pre-match was more akin to a war than a football match as the PSG faithful looked to put the fear of God into the visitors.

However, the stadium fell silent before kick-off as the 53,000 fans packed inside the Parc des Princes remembered the late Fiorentina captain Davide Astori.

As is often the case in games of such magnitude it started tamely, with neither side wanting to overcommit in the opening exchanges.

With 17 minutes gone Cristiano Ronaldo saw a penalty appeal waved away after he went to ground under a challenge from Dani Alves as he looked to combine with Lucas Vazquez.

That move led to a corner and from the set-piece came the game’s first real chance. A quickly-taken corner saw Marco Asensio receive the ball unmarked. The youngster crossed low to where Sergio Ramos was waiting but Alphonse Areola in the home goal beat away his low first-time effort.

Karim Benzema was marking his 100th Champions League appearance, but the Frenchman endured a night to forget, though the chances he spurned tended to be of his own creation.

 

6 March 2018

With just seven minutes left in the first half, the former Lyon man raced away clear after Marquinhos failed to cut out a ball down the line. However, as Benzema bore down on goal and took aim, Areola did brilliantly to get down and deny him a goal on his milestone appearance.

As the break approached, PSG started to build up a head of steam, but Kylian Mbappe wasted their best chance as he opted to shoot from a narrow angle rather than feed the unmarked Edinson Cavani in the middle.

That mean the two sides went in level at the break, with all the action saved for the second period.

With just five minutes of the second half played Cristiano Ronaldo saw a diving header flash just wide and with PSG failing to heed the warning, the Portuguese went one better just a minute later.

Dani Alves surrendered possession to Marco Asensio on halfway and he burst forward on the counter. The youngster found Vazquez and he floated in the perfect cross for Ronaldo to rise and head Real in front at the far post.

 

6 March 2018

That left the Parisians needing three goals to force extra-time and things got worse for the hosts with 66 minutes gone as Marco Verratti was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card for dissent.

The impressive Asensio crashed an effort off the post after meeting a cut-back from Benzema before the home side found a surprise lifeline.

With 19 minutes to go Edinson Cavani levelled things on the night, scrambling home from close range after Javier Pastore’s header from Thiago Silva’s knockdown had been blocked into his patch.

Cue Karim Benzema to put the cherry on top of the cake that was his disappointing night. The French international stole the ball on halfway and drove forward but opted not to play in Ronaldo and instead wasted the chance by curling wide.

Parity didn’t last long though and with 10 minutes to go Real reclaimed the lead and it came from an unlikely source. Adrien Rabiot could only clear Vazquez’s cross as far as Casemiro, who saw his low effort deflect up off Marquinhos and loop over Areola and into the back of the net.

From there on in it looked like ti could get nasty for PSG, with both Vazquez and Ronaldo testing the frame of the goal shortly afterwards.

However, Real were made to do with a 2-1 victory in the end as they became the first name in the hat for the quarter-final draw.

PSG’s European dream is made to wait for another year at least.