UCL: Dortmund, Real share the spoils

Andre Schurrle scored a 87th minute equaliser as Borussia Dortmund twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with the holders Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League Group F clash at the Westfalenstadion.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cancelled out a Cristiano Ronaldo opener to leave the two teams level at the break, before Raphael Varane converted in the 68th minute to send Real Madrid ahead once again.
There was to be late drama in Germany, however, as Schurrle came off the bench to find the top corner with a brilliant effort as the two teams moved onto four points in the section.
Both teams had almost identical free kicks – 30 yards from goal – inside the opening four minutes, but Ronaldo’s effort was kept out by Roman Burki, before Navas saved Gonzalo Castro’s dipping strike down the other end of the field.
There was hardly time to take a breath inside the opening 10 minutes as Dortmund put the pressure on and Navas had to be on his toes to keep out a low strike from Dembele, moments after Ronaldo escaped a clear handball just outside his own box, which led to Tuchel having an animated discussion with the fourth official.
Down the other end, Real Madrid had a super chance to register after Ronaldo slid a pass into Benzema, but the Frenchman lost his footing at the vital moment. The visitors did make the breakthrough in the 17th minute, however, when Ronaldo smashed the ball home from close range after a super back-heel from Bale had fallen for the Portuguese.
Navas went from hero to zero in the final stages of the first period, however, as the Costa Rican decided to punch a weak free kick from Guerreiro and the ball hit his own defender Varane before bouncing into the away side’s net, courtesy of a late touch from Aubameyang, who was quick to claim the goal.
Dortmund, who were full of it, twice came close to taking the lead early in the second period, but Dembele fired over the crossbar from close range before Navas pushed a curling drive from Aubameyang out of the danger zone.
Bale had a chance of his own 20 minutes from time after meeting a corner from Toni Kroos, but the Welshman headed over from close range. The visitors continued to press though and regained the lead in the 68th minute when Varane tapped home from close range after Benzema’s strike had hit the woodwork.
It was Schurrle that secured a share of the spoils in the 87th minute, however, when the German international found the top corner with a brilliant strike from inside the box.