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As it happenedended

Real Madrid vs PSG LIVE result: Karim Benzema scores twice but PSG come back to earn draw

Michael Jones
Tuesday 26 November 2019 16:14 EST
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Real Madrid meet PSG in the Champions League tonight
Real Madrid meet PSG in the Champions League tonight (AP)

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Paris St Germain scored two late goals in the space of three minutes to battle back for a 2-2 draw at Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday and secure top spot in Group A at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real had sealed their place in the knockout stages for a record-extending 23rd successive year thanks to Club Bruges' 1-1 draw at Galatasaray earlier while PSG had also already qualified.

Yet they still served up a thrilling game with top spot on the line as well as pride after PSG had crushed Real 3-0 back in September.

Karim Benzema knocked into an empty net to give Real the lead in the 17th minute of his 100th Champions League start and the French forward doubled the advantage with a 79th minute header.

Yet Kylian Mbappe immediately reduced the deficit in the 81st minute, capitalising on a mistake from Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois before Pablo Sarabia equalised in the 82nd.

PSG's fightback added to concern in the stands after Real winger Eden Hazard hobbled off in the second half with an ankle injury, although substitute Gareth Bale almost snatched a winner when he struck the post in added time from a free kick.

PSG top Group A with 13 points from five games while Real are second on eight. Club Bruges, who Real visit in their final game next month, are third on three points, while Galatasaray, who will travel to PSG, are bottom with two.

Real were cruising in the first half but the game looked set to be shaken up when PSG were awarded a penalty and Courtois was shown a red card for hauling down Mauro Icardi in the area.

But the referee overturned both decisions following a VAR review, and awarded Real a free kick instead for a foul on Marcelo in the build-up.

Madrid, who had won five of their previous six games, produced a dominant display from start to finish but were let down by slack defending in the closing stages.

They should have killed the game off long before Benzema's second but were repeatedly denied by their former, much-loved keeper Keylor Navas.

The Costa Rican, who won three consecutive Champions League crowns with Real before moving to Paris at the start of the season, made 10 saves, including a stunning block to deny Benzema from point-blank range.

Reuters

What time is the game?

The game kicks off at 8pm on Tuesday November 26.

The game is being broadcast on BT Sport ESPN with coverage getting underway at 8pm.

Subscribers can also stream the game live online via the BT Sport website.​

Predicted XIs

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Valverde, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Hazard, Benzema

PSG: Navas, Meunier, Silva, Kimpembe, Bernat, Marquinhos, Verratti, Gueye, Di Maria, Mbappe, Neymar.

What are the odds?

Real Madrid 5/4

Draw 11/4

PSG 9/5

Real Madrid 2 - 2 PSG

90+4 mins: Draxler gives away a free kick about 25-yards out. Gareth Bale stands over the ball, lines up the shot and strikes it...

... it goes across the goal and hits the far post!

Michael Jones26 November 2019 21:54

Real Madrid 2 - 2 PSG

90+4 mins: That's the last kick of the game and the final whistle goes. Honours are even between the teams. 

Bale had a chance to win it but struck the uprights!

Michael Jones26 November 2019 21:56

What that means is that both Real Madrid and PSG have qualified for the knockout stages. PSG remain top of Group A and have a five point lead.

It was almost redemption for Bale in the eyes of the fans, he came within the width of the post to scripting a dream ending to the match. 

Michael Jones26 November 2019 21:58

Michael Jones26 November 2019 21:58

Real Madrid let a two-goal lead slip away late on at the Bernabeu as Paris Saint-Germain roused themselves to earn a draw. Karim Benzema gave Real the lead in the first half, and he added a second in the 79th minute to seemingly the put the game to bed. But PSG sprung to life and Kylian Mbappe pounced on a defensive errors to bring them back into the game: 

Michael Jones26 November 2019 22:07

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