WITH 89 MINUTES played, Real Madrid were staring down the barrel of an embarrassing home defeat to Sporting Lisbon.
And then, in an instant, everything changed.
Inevitably, the moment of magic came courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo, who whipped home a free-kick to level affairs.
Equally inevitably, the former Sporting player offered only a muted celebration as a sign of respect towards his ex-employers.
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But the reigning champions weren’t done yet and Sporting, having already leaked one, were vulnerable.
In the 95th-minute, the hosts forced a corner and when James Rodriguez swung it in, there was Alvaro Morata to head home and secure a spectacular win.
A bitter finale for the guests who seemed set for a first ever win on Spanish soil in a Uefa competition.
Elsewhere, in Group H, Juventus were held at home by Europa League winners Sevilla.
Gonzalo Higuain came closest to breaking the deadlock, the Argentine hitting th crossbar with a 59th-minute header.
The Turin giants are now unbeaten at home in their last 18 Uefa fixtures.
In Group E, Bayer Leverkusen were left red-faced as they allowed a two-goal lead slip at home to CSKA Moscow.
Admir Mehmedi and Hakan Calhanoglu put the hosts in front inside the opening 15 minutes but a superb goal from Alan Dzagoev made things interesting on 36 minutes before Roman Eremenko equalised two minutes later.
There was no breakthrough from either side in the second half and 2-2 is how it ended in Germany.
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