Ronaldo inspires Real to PSG win and last eight spot

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - Holders Real Madrid cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals with Cristiano Ronaldo's second-half goal helping them to a 2-1 victory at Paris St Germain on Tuesday as the 12-time European champions went through 5-2 on aggregate.

Ronaldo headed home seven minutes into the second half and Casemiro added a second 10 minutes from time against a toothless PSG, who were without their injured talisman Neymar and had Marco Verratti sent off for a second booking in the 66th minute.

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Real Madrid’s Casemiro celebrates scoring their second goal with Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Ronaldo scored for the ninth Champions League game in a row, matching Ruud van Nistelrooy's record in the competition, before PSG striker Edinson Cavani equalised with 19 minutes left, only for Casemiro to give Real victory at the Parc des Princes.

Zinedine Zidane's side, who are 15 points adrift of arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga but aiming for their third straight Champions League crown, were solid throughout as the home side rarely threatened and fully deserved their win.

With Toni Kroos and Luka Modric starting on the bench after returning from injury, Real struggled to control the midfield but PSG did not threaten in a dull start to the game.

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos in action with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Real had a great opportunity in the 20th minute, but PSG goalkeeper Alphonse Areola pulled off a superb save as he parried Sergio Ramos's effort from close range.

The visitors had another chance in the 38th when Karim Benzema's curled shot was saved by Areola.

PSG had their first big chance on the stroke of halftime as Kylian Mbappe burst down the right flank, only for his low shot to be blocked by Real keeper Keylor Navas.

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery  and Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

DANGEROUS REAL

The stadium announcer asked the PSG fans to stop lighting flares at the start of the second half, with smoke having covered part of the pitch.

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro celebrate after the match REUTERS/Charles Platiau

But that did not stop Real being the most dangerous side again, Ronaldo's header from near the penalty spot shaving Areola's right-hand post.

The Portuguese was spot on in the 52nd minute, beating Areola with a downward header from Lucas Vazquez's cross from the left.

PSG coach Unai Emery, who is under pressure a year after his side lost 6-1 at Barca in the last 16 following a 4-0 home win in the first leg, replaced holding midfielder Thiago Motta with the more creative Javier Pastore on the hour.

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

But PSG finished the match with 10 men after combative midfielder Verratti picked up a second yellow card.

They levelled in the 71st when the ball deflected into the net off Cavani to give the home fans a glimmer of hope.

However, that was short-lived as Casemiro's shot in the 80th minute took a slight deflection off Marquinhos to earn the win as Real made the quarter-finals for the eighth straight season.

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

(Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores their first goal REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva shakes hands with Real Madrid’s Marcelo after the match REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery  REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot in action with Real Madrid’s Isco REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane celebrate after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Soccer Football - Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg - Paris St Germain vs Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 6, 2018 Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal celebrates after Casemiro scores their second goal REUTERS/Benoit Tessier