Courtois denied Lionel Messi from the penalty spot in the first leg last month which proved decisive in Real Madrid's progress into the quarter-finals.
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Real Madrid qualified for the last-8 of the Champions League courtesy of an epic come-from-behind 3-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 second leg fixture at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Karim Benzema scored three goals in the last 30 minutes to seal their progress into the next round after Kylian Mbappe 39th-minute strike extended PSG’s aggregate lead to two goals in the first half. Meanwhile Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made some crucial saves in the two-legged tie to help his team progress.
?☕️ BONJOUR, MADRIDISTAS! pic.twitter.com/ERysJX7XVI
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The Belgium keeper reflected after the final whistle: “We have shown what Real Madrid means today, this crest and these fans. We didn’t play well in the first leg and we were losing today as well, but we played much better. The constant pressure led to us getting that first goal. It was the Bernabéu and we needed it because it really became a pressure cooker and then the second and third goals came our way”. (Credit: realmadrid.com)
For a major part of the two-legged tie, PSG were on top and Real Madrid struggled to find their rhythm. But Benzema’s equaliser on 61 minutes courtesy of Gianluigi Donarumma’s error gave a life-line to the hosts and they made full use of it.
Courtois denied Lionel Messi from the penalty spot in the first leg last month which proved decisive in Real Madrid’s progress into the next round.
The 29-year-old added: “We felt like we could win it. With the fortune of a few of my saves in the first leg, that belief, the Bernabéu pushing us on, the quality we have and Karim, who is the best number 9 in the world.
Benzema gave Real Madrid the lead on 76 minutes from Luka Modric’s assist before completing his hat-trick two minutes later by finishing off a poor defensive clearance from Danilo Pereiro.
“He showed that again today. He really pulled the team up like a captain and that’s where the first goal came from, then the other two were just superb”.
