Cristiano Ronaldo was again the hero, as Real Madrid struggled for long periods of the game against a younger, fresher Paris Saint-Germain side, but the hosts' greater experience told in the end. The 3-1 first-leg advantage did not really tell the story of the game, but it means manager Zinedine Zidane's side are now big favourites to make the quarterfinals yet again.
It looked like the nouveaux riche challengers to Europe's old order were about to make a big statement when they went ahead after half an hour through Adrien Rabiot's gleeful strike. But Madrid rolled with the punches, and Ronaldo's penalty got them level by half-time.
The second period saw Neymar look the most likely matchwinner for the visitors, but Ronaldo -- perhaps unintentionally -- bundled home from close range, and then left-back Marcelo found himself unmarked 8 yards out to show that the old champions still had plenty of punch left.
Madrid started very fast, pushing right up the pitch and looking to put pressure on a potentially nervous PSG side. Toni Kroos had a penalty claim turned down within 90 seconds, and Ronaldo bounced an early sighter wide of the far post.
The visitors did take a while to settle, but bit by bit they looked more comfortable. Neymar was almost constantly involved, drifting in from the right wing, but he seemed unsure of what to do and ended up falling over.
The breakthrough just past the half-hour mark was not a big surprise. Kylian Mbappe's superb cross was almost converted, first by Edinson Cavani, then Neymar, and the loose ball fell to the unmarked Rabiot, who had all the time he needed to thrash powerfully into the net. Cavani then might have made it 2-0 but for Casemiro's last-gasp block.
Just as PSG seemed set for a deserved half-time lead, a rookie foul on Kroos by Giovani Lo Celso, a surprise selection in holding midfield, handed Madrid a lifeline. Ronaldo thumped home the penalty, and the Bernabeu was happier again.
PSG regained momentum again after the break, with Keylor Navas saving well low down from Mbappe, after Neymar had unselfishly teed him up. As the tension rose at the Bernabeu, both Mbappe and Dani Alves were inches from converting Yuri Berchiche's cross. But then came Madrid's late burst -- inspired by their young substitute Marco Asensio -- and Los Blancos are now big favourites to progress in the March 6 return leg.
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