Real Madrid give up two goal lead as Borussia Dortmund grab top spot
A good game had a late twist as Marco Reus scored late on to hand the German side a point
Borussia Dortmund are through as group winners in their Champions League group after coming from behind to draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
It means they will not be among the teams Barcelona can draw and neither will Madrid, due to the fact Spanish sides cannot be paired together until the quarter-final.
Madrid needed to win to progress as group winners and took the lead through Karim Benzema. Dortmund had started brightly but Madrid slowly took control and Dani Carvajal’s fantastic low cross was finished by the Frenchman.
The same pattern followed at the beginning of the second half. Dortmund started well, Ousmane Dembele missing a good chance, before Madrid once again demonstrated their efficiency at the other end.
James Rodriguez, brought in from the cold, delivered a fine cross and Benzema, again, produced the finish, this time with his head. He’d just missed a sitter, too.
Dortmund didn’t drop their heads though and pulled one back through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who tucked home Marcel Schmelzer’s cross.
The game was open now. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post as Dortmund left gaps and there was always likely to be a fourth goal as the away side hunted the equaliser which would seal their place as group winners.
And it arrived seconds before normal time was up. Aubameyang’s pace got him free on the right and his pass was perfect for Marco Reus, who fired past Keylor Navas.
In truth, it’s a result which favours both sides. Dortmund win the group and take their goals tally to 21 in the group stage, a competition high, and Madrid maintain their unbeaten run. They’re unlikely to get a tough draw, either, with Barça and Atletico Madrid off limits.
