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BoxingUCL: Mauricio Pochettino Reveals Who Is to Blame After PSG's Dramatic Collapse vs Real Madrid
- In a bizarre case of dejavu, Paris Saint Germain surrendered a two-goal lead as Real Madrid won the last 16 tie 3-2 on aggregate
- Karim Benzema’s hat trick ensured the French giants would not be proceeding to the quarter finals, despite their star-studded squad
- PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino claimed a ‘big mistake’ from the match officials cost them the game
Mauricio Pochetino has slammed match officials for what he termed a ‘big mistake’ made during his side PSG’s dramatic exit from the Champions League.
The Parisians suffered a shocking collapse at the Santiago Bernabeu as Karim Benzema scored a hat trick to help his side come from behind to claim a 3-2 aggregate win.
At halftime, everything seemed to be going according to plan for PSG as they were leading the game 1-0 thanks to Kylian Mbappe’s crisp finish in the first half.
With a 2-0 aggregate lead, it looked like Real Madrid were on their way out of the competition, but Benzema offered his side a lifeline by capitalizing on a mistake from the PSG goalkeeper.
His completed his hat trick within 17 minutes to take the tie away from the French giants.
“Foul on Donarruma”
Speaking after the game, Pochettino believes Benzema’s first goal should not have counted.
According to the Argentine, Benzema fouled keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the build up to the goal.
"Real's first goal changed the match,” he told Canal as per Express.uk.
“I wonder what the VAR is doing because for me there is something else. It's a shame, when you see the action, there’s a foul.
“After that, the match changed. For 60 minutes we dominated, that goal changed everything."
For his other two goals, Benzema was set up by Modric, and another defensive lapse from Marquinhos allowed the Frenchman to complete his hat trick.
Mbappe shines again, but it’s not enough
Meanwhile, he might have exited the Champions League, but Kylian Mbappe earned plaudits online for another masterclass against Real Madrid.
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Other SportsThe Frenchman was a pain for Los Blancos in the first half and would have had a brace had his initial goal not been ruled out for offside.
Mbappe’s future remains a hot subject of speculation as his current deal with PSG runs out in the summer.