Updated at 22.05
MATEO KOVACIC DENIED denied Legia Warsaw a famous Champions League victory, but holders Real Madrid still have work to do to reach the last 16 after a remarkable 3-3 draw.
Gareth Bale scored Madrid’s fastest Champions League goal after 57 seconds with a magnificent long-range volley in a contest played behind closed doors at the Polish Army Stadium due to crowd trouble during Legia’s home match with Borussia Dortmund in September.
And when Karim Benzema doubled the lead it looked as if Madrid would ease to a place in the knockout stages.
Despite a lack of any home advantage, Legia displayed impressive resiliency and produced an incredible turnaround to lead 3-2.
Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe pulled one back five minutes before half-time, with Miroslav Radovic then firing into the bottom-right corner to level matters in the 58th minute.
And the sparse crowd of club officials in attendance looked set to witness one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history when Thibault Moulin curled in off the post for Legia’s third, only for Kovacic to cap off a neat Madrid move and ensure a share of the spoils with five minutes left.
The draw means Madrid are now two points behind Group F leaders Borussia Dortmund and five ahead of Sporting CP. Meanwhile, Legia can no longer progress, but still harbour hope of a Europa League place.
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