A “calamitous mistake” from Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma sparked a complete meltdown from the glamour club who were dumped out of the Champions League in extraordinary fashion this morning.
PSG, who are reportedly paying their players a total wage bill of $460 million this season, were cruising after Kylian Mbappe’s first half goal, which gave them a 2-0 overall advantage in the second leg of the round of 16 tie against Real Madrid.
But Donnarumma’s howler (watch in the video player above) allowed Karim Benzema to score the first of his three goals for a 3-2 aggregate win to fire Real through to the quarterfinals.
Watch Messi, Neymar, Ronaldo and football’s biggest superstars in the UEFA Champions League with every match streaming ad free, live and on demand only on Stan Sport. Start your seven day free trial here!
“A calamitous mistake and they completely collapsed,” former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said on Stan Sport.
“Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”
Legendary commentator Martin Tyler has seen it all but even he had to rub his eyes in disbelief.
READ MORE: Goal scoring freak shatters Champions League record
READ MORE: Why Shane Warne only took an ice bath once
READ MORE: PGA Tour boss takes swipe at Mickelson over $3b farce
“Absolute delirium, pandemonium at the Bernabeu,” Tyler said.
“A Champions League hat trick but not just any one. At a time of desperation.”
Former England international Alan Smith was also stunned.
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1501674343528501248?s=20&t=90GqTdzxhpd38GNKYefXSQ
“He’s achieved many things in his career but this has got to be right up there,” Smith said of Frenchman Benzema.
“It’s knocked PSG for six, they are all over the place. They’ve completely lost their heads.
“They’ve collapsed like a house of cards. Have you ever seen a comeback like this?”
Benzema’s hat trick was scored in less than 20 minutes in the second half as PSG failed to live up to the massive expectations after adding Lionel Messi to its star-studded team.
PSG, seeking its first Champions League title, had advanced past the round of 16 in the last two seasons, losing the final to Bayern Munich in 2020 and being eliminated by Manchester City in the semifinals in 2021.
Madrid eliminated PSG at this stage in 2018 en route to its third straight title in the competition.
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1501683165894950917?s=20&t=UZj4oVbGdx4AKuqC2Eivcw
PSG appeared in control after Mbappe, who had been doubtful to play after picking up a knock in training on Monday, scored in the 39th minute after collecting a long pass by Neymar and making a run into the area before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
It was the 27th Champions League goal for the 23-year-old France forward with PSG, leaving him three shy of Edinson Cavani’s club record in the competition.
He has scored 14 goals in his last 14 Champions League appearances.
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1501678863721832454?s=20&t=UZj4oVbGdx4AKuqC2Eivcw
Mbappe had already had a few chances before opening the scoring, including a goal disallowed for offside in the build-up.
He also had one goal called back for the same reason in the second half.
Vinicius Junior and Benzema threatened the most for Madrid, and the French striker scored the equaliser off a pass from Vinicius after Donnarumma gave the ball away while being pressured by Benzema inside the area.
https://twitter.com/StanSportFC/status/1501677552578220032?s=20&t=UZj4oVbGdx4AKuqC2Eivcw
Benzema added the second after a pass from Luka Modric and a couple of minutes later sealed the team’s spot in the quarterfinals with a one-time finish after another run by Vinicius down the left flank.
Madrid was without Ferland Mendy and Casemiro because of yellow card suspensions, but Toni Kroos started after being doubtful because of a muscle injury.
In the other last 16 match this morning, Manchester City advanced past Sporting Lisbon 5-0 on aggregate after a scoreless draw in England.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!