Internet Desk: Borussia Dortmund managed to snatch away a 2-2 draw against holders Real Madrid in Champions’ League last group league match on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish giants squandered a two goal advantage to settle for a draw. The German club’s late comeback earned them a top place in Group F.
Karim Benzema scored in each half for the hosts, but Dortmund fought back with scores from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and an 88th minute goal from Marco Real to shock the home fans in what was an open, entertaining game of football.
The match started on a fast pace with both the attack-happy teams creating opportunities to score. Good work between Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema early on nearly got the Frenchman the game’s first goal. Dortmund’s three-man back line gave Real a lot of room on the right due to Dortmund left-back Marcel Schmelzer playing so high up the pitch. Dani Carvajal benefitted the most and just before the half-four mark the Real right-back carved open the Dortmund defence and set up Benzema with an easy push into net for the 1-0 lead.
The Frenchman tallied his second of the night by heading in an inch-prefect cross from James. The Frenchman’s goal came less than 60 seconds after he was denied from point-blank range by Weidenfeller. Eventually the ball circulated back around to James, and again Benzema got the better of the Dortmund defence to make it 2-0.
Real’s defence switched off a bit after the second goal, and allowed Dortmund right back into the game when Marcelo kept Schmelzer onside on a pass from Julian Weigl and the cross found the onrushing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to tapped in past Navas to cut the lead to 2-1.
With the final 10 minutes, Dortmund made one final push for an equaliser, and it would come via a devastating counter-attack. Emre Mor played a long ball up to Aubameyang who used his speed to our-race Sergio Ramos before crossing for Marco Reus, who split Raphael Varane and Carvajal before firing in past Navas to complete the Dortmund comeback.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane made a few changes in the starting XI in El Classico. James got the nod over Isco in midfield. Also returning to the line-up was Casemiro ahead of Mateo Kovacic. Otherwise it was the same group of players who earned a late 1-1 draw at Barcelona in the Clasico.
In another match, Gonzalo Higuain’s stunning strike saw Juventus finish on top of Group H as they beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 in Turin. After a lifeless first half, Higuain fired Juve ahead shortly after the break before Daniele Rugani headed in a second to wrap up the victory and confirm the Serie A club’s passage as group winners.
Spanish side Sevilla too entered the last 16 after their goalless draw with Lyon. FC Porto registered a thumping 5-0 win over Premier League side Leicester City. But that did not stop the Foxes from qualifying into the last 16 stages.
Here is the results of all the Champions League matches played on Wednesday night:
