Sánchez heads Madrid into semi-finals

Real Madrid CF are the first team through to the UEFA Youth League semi-finals after battling to a 1-0 victory at Paris Saint-Germain with ten men.

Having already hit a post through Kingsley Coman, Paris must have pictured themselves in the driving seat when their quarter-final rivals lost Héctor Martínez to a red card ten minutes after the interval, but ultimately they were punished for profligacy. Jaime Sánchez headed in from a 72nd-minute corner as Madrid stunned their hosts to book a last-four tie against Manchester City FC or SL Benfica in Nyon next month.

Paris made an industrious start, yet neither side looked close to creating a chance until the dangerous Coman burst free down the left and fed Mickaël Latour, who slotted wide when through on goal. That seemed to enliven Madrid, and Javier Muñoz forced Mike Maignan to save low down before Ismael Cerro directed an acrobatic effort straight at the home No1.

Lively left-winger Marcos Legaz also carried a threat for the Merengues, testing Maignan at his near post and later finding the side netting. It was Paris who ended the half on top, however, Coman and Hervin Ongenda both asking questions of Sergio Rodríguez before Coman drove a vicious attempt against the base of the upright.

Madrid emerged with greater purpose after the break and were soon causing problems, Maignan clutching a Muñoz header and leaping right to parry a Francisco José Rodríguez free-kick. Their momentum was nonetheless swiftly halted by Martínez's dismissal, the defender having denied Coman a clear run at goal.

Paris promptly took over the baton and, after Sergio Rodríguez had batted away an Ongenda set piece, the Madrid custodian kept out Stéphane Lambese. If Paris thought their route to the semi-finals was about to clear, though, they were about to be set straight, Sánchez nodding high into the net from a corner. Try as they might, Coman and Co could not muster a response.