Ronaldo rises to occasion again as Real ease through

● Holders never look in danger as they beat ten-man PSG to reach quarter-finals

Holders Real Madrid eased into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win at ten-man Paris Saint-germain.

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 last night.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg, Real never looked in danger against the sedate hosts despite Edinson Cavani’s fortunate second-half equaliser.

Marco Verratti was sent off for PSG in the second half as their hopes of a maiden Champions League title ended. 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.

Karim Benzema wasted Real’s best chance of the first half, and the opportunity to end the tie, eight minutes before the break when he broke down the left but was denied by Alphonse Areola’s leg.

The hosts then went close just before half-time when Keylor Navas turned Kylian Mbappe’s drive behind as PSG finally began to find openings.

But it was Real who ended up opening the scoring after 51 minutes. Dani Alves lost the ball to Marco Asensio and his fine ball to Lucas Vazquez allowed the midfielder to cross for Ronaldo to head in at the far post.

Things got worse for PSG 14 minutes later when Verratti was dismissed for a second yellow card for dissent.

Asensio hit the post three minutes later for Real before the hosts got back on level terms for the night after 71 minutes. 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.

But Casemiro’s deflected effort ten minutes later – his shot hit Marquinhos, wrongfooted Areola and looped in – ensured no way back for PSG.