Dani Alves on Karim Benzema's masterclass against PSG: "What a player."
Real Madrid dealt a knockout blow to Paris Saint-chances Germain's of winning the UEFA Champions League this season, with Karim Benzema putting in a performance for the ages.
Despite leading by two goals at halftime, Les Parisiens succumbed to the Real Madrid deluge in the second half, as Benzema netted a hat-trick to turn a two-goal deficit into a 3-2 aggregate lead.
Los Blancos secured a place in the competition's quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Dani Alves, an FC Barcelona veteran, praised Benzema's performance on his Instagram account after the win, applauding the Frenchman for his brilliance on the night.
"I don't care if he's from real madrid, but what a player, what a player Benzema is," Alves wrote in a story. "I enjoy playing this game."
On the night, Alves was just one of many who congratulated Benzema on his brilliant attacking exhibit against PSG. It attests to the Frenchman's success at Real Madrid, particularly since Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.
The 34-year-old has scored 117 goals in all competitions since the onset of the 2018/19 season. As a result, he was one of the favorites to win the Ballon d'Or last year, having finished just behind Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, and Jorginho.
As the season nears its end, Benzema's contributions in front of goal may become even more important, particularly in Real Madrid's bid to win the league and try to reclaim the UEFA Champions League.