![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/CristianoRonaldoRealMadridCelebratesMar2018_large.jpg\")
Holders Real Madrid eased into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win at 10-man Paris St Germain.<\/p>\nHolders Real Madrid eased into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win at 10-man Paris St Germain.<\/p>\n
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 12th goal in the competition and Casemiro’s late strike ensured Zinedine Zidane’s side progressed 5-2 on aggregate in the French capital on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Real never looked in danger against the sedate hosts despite Edinson Cavani’s fortunate second-half equaliser.<\/p>\n
Zidane’s side put aside their LaLiga blues – they are 15 points behind arch rivals Barcelona – to reach the quarter-finals of the competition they won last June.<\/p>\n
Marco Verratti was sent off for PSG in the second half as their hopes of a maiden Champions League title ended.<\/p>\n
They are also likely to face UEFA punishment after the game was briefly halted at the start of the second half because of flares from the home fans.<\/p>\n
Karim Benzema almost put the tie out of reach early on when he fired over from the edge of the box.<\/p>\n
A fine Sergio Ramos volley then brought an excellent one-handed save from Alphonse Areola after 21 minutes after he connected with Marco Asensio’s cross.<\/p>\n
PSG were too pedestrian and struggled to break down Real, who comfortably contained the surprisingly subdued hosts.<\/p>\n
Benzema wasted Real’s best chance, and the opportunity to end the tie, eight minutes before the break when he broke down the left but was denied by Areola’s leg.<\/p>\n
Keylor Navas then grabbed Angel Di Maria’s low effort with Cavani lurking, but PSG failed to create clear chances.<\/p>\n
The hosts then went closer just before half-time when Navas turned Kylian Mbappe’s drive behind as PSG finally began to find openings.<\/p>\n
The first half, though, failed to live up to the hype and, with PSG hunting two goals to go through, they needed an early strike.<\/p>\n
It was Real who ended up opening the scoring after 51 minutes.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo had just headed wide but he was not to be denied a second time.<\/p>\n
Dani Alves lost the ball to Asensio and his fine ball to Lucas Vazquez allowed the midfielder to cross for Ronaldo to head in at the far post.<\/p>\n
It meant the ex-Manchester United star has scored in every Champions League appearance this season.<\/p>\n
Things got worse for PSG 14 minutes later when Verratti was dismissed for a second yellow card for dissent.<\/p>\n
Asensio hit the post three minutes later as Real threatened a second before the hosts got back on level terms for the night after 71 minutes.<\/p>\n
Cavani knew little about it but claimed his 32nd goal of the campaign when the ball bounced around the box and hit the striker before crossing the line.<\/p>\n
But Casemiro’s deflected effort 10 minutes later – his shot hit Marquinhos, wrong-footed Areola and looped in from 16 yards – ensured there was no way back for PSG.<\/p>\n