Real Madrid fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Borussia Monchengladbach to avoid making it two defeats out of two in Champions League Group B and keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds alive.
Madrid played well for the opening half hour, and Toni Kroos had a shot from distance well-saved by Borussia goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but it was the German side who went ahead, with Marcus Thuram scoring with their only shot of the first half.
The visitors looked to respond as Marco Asensio went close either side of half time. Thuram doubled Borussia’s lead with a close-range second, before Karim Benzema pulled a goal back from Casemiro’s header and the Brazilian grabbed a dramatic, added-time equaliser.
Just as they did against Shakhtar Donetsk last week, Madrid started fairly well here, pressing Borussia high up the pitch and disrupting the Germans’ ability to play out from deep. They struggled after that but showed great spirit to fight back in the second half, in difficult circumstances.
Eden Hazard’s return from injury, 81 days later, is good news, if he can finally stay fit. Asensio’s performance was a positive, too. The Spain international winger is getting regular game time now this was his third start in a row and coach Zinedine Zidane clearly recognises his huge, as yet unfulfilled, potential.
Real Madrid were dangerously close here to losing four Champions League games in a row for the first time in their history. Back-to-back knockout defeats to Manchester City had been followed by last week’s bizarre 3-2 loss to Shakhtar, and this would have been an embarrassing result too were it not for Casemiro’s heroics.
The team continues to ship goals far too easily, and Zidane needs to address the vulnerable-looking defence, and fast. Madrid seem far too fragile at present in the face of adversity. Conceding one goal threatens a collapse. They can’t keep making things so hard for themselves.
