Gladbach 2-2 Real Madrid: Karim Benzema and Casemiro score late goals to earn last-gasp draw

Published on: 28 October 2020

Real Madrid pulled off a dramatic comeback to deny Borussia Monchengladbach a famous victory, but are still left with just a point after their first two Champions League games.

The Spanish Champions fell behind to a Marcus Thuram double and it seemed the 23-year-old son of former France international Lilian would send them home empty handed.

But Madrid never know when they are beaten and led by Casemiro, and with Eden Hazard on the pitch, they scored late and levelled in injury time.

Casemiro it was who set up the first and scored the second. ‘They scored twice from their first two chances but we fought back,’ said the Brazilian midfielder.

‘That’s what we are all about. This is the Champions League right now, every game is difficult.’

Monchengladbach took the lead when Alassane Plea won possession high up the pitch and whipped over a cross from the right that Thuram finished past Courtois.

Madrid had dominated the first half but from their ten chances only two had been on target and none had beaten Yann Sommer. Monchengladbach had scored one from one.

They made a nervous start to the second half with keeper Sommer kicking the ball out for a corner from Madrid’s first attack.

From the kick the impressive Marco Asensio sent a bouncing volley on to the bar. Fede Valverde then got to the byline but from his pull-back Vinicius screwed his shot horribly wide.

Monchengladbach were dangerous on the break with Thuram sprinting half the length of the pitch on a quick counter.

Madrid’s stand-in right-back Lucas Vaquez did well to stay with him and not jump in. Still under pressure from Lucas, Thuram crossed into Courtois’s arms.

From Thuram’s next chance he made it 2-0. Plea’s shot was saved by Courtois but the Belgian could not hold the effort. With Mendy playing the Monchengladbach attack onside Thuram swept in the rebound from close range.

It should then have been 3-0 but Courtois saved brilliantly from Plea.

Zidane had seen enough and threw on Luka Modric and Eden Hazard who seemed a long way from a full training session until recently let alone a Champions League salvation job.

He had Madrid’s first big chance to narrow the margin but shot into the side-netting. Monchengladbach defended well and Plea was still a threat on the break running in behind at every opportunity.

Casemiro saved a lost cause of a cross from Fede Valverde heading it back from the byline and Karim Benzema hooked the loose ball into the roof of the net on 87 minutes.

And suddenly the German hosts were wobbling. Lucas slung over another cross and when Ramos headed the ball down Casemiro was there to score the equalizer in the 93rd minute and earn Real Madrid their first Champions League point of the season.

Source: m.allfootballapp.com

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