Casemiro scored a last-gasp equaliser as Real Madrid fought back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach on Tuesday, avoiding a second straight loss in the Champions League.
Marcus Thuram’s double had put the German outfit on course for a famous victory, but Real roared back with late efforts from Karim Benzema and Casemiro — three minutes into added time — to salvage a point.
But Real remained at the bottom of Group B after its shock 3-2 home defeat against a depleted Shakhtar Donetsk side in the opener. Shakhtar was three points clear at the top after a goalless draw with Inter Milan in another encounter.
Despite having more than 60% possession, Real rarely troubled Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer until the frantic final moments.
It was Gladbach which scored just after the half-hour mark. A poor pass by Toni Kroos put Real under pressure in its own half. Gladbach midfielder Jonas Hofmann snapped up the loose ball and fed Alassane Plea, whose pin-point low pass to Thuram was buried into the back of the net.
Thuram, the son of French 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, pounced to score his second in the 58th. However, Zidane’s men fought back to share the honours.
Holder Bayern Munich needed a Joshua Kimmich strike to claim a 2-1 win at Lokomotiv Moscow in Group A. Joao Felix scored twice, including a late winner, as Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Salzburg 3-2.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City eased to a second straight win in Group C while Liverpool defeated Danish champion Midtjylland 2-0 in a low-key game in Group D. Atalanta came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home to Ajax, thanks to Duvan Zapata’s brace.
The results: Group A: Lokomotiv Moscow 1 (Miranchuk 70) lost to Bayern Munich 2 (Goretzka 13, Kimmich 79); Atletico Madrid 3 (Llorente 29, Felix 52 & 85) bt Salzburg 2 (Szoboszlai 40, Berisha 47).
Group B: Shakhtar Donetsk 0 drew with Inter Milan 0; Borussia Monchengladbach 2 (Thuram 33 & 58) drew with Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 87, Casemiro 90+3).
Group C: Porto 2 (Vieira 11, Oliveira 85) bt Olympiakos 0; Marseille 0 lost to Manchester City 3 (Torres 18, Gundogan 76, Sterling 81).
Group D: Atalanta 2 (Zapata 54 & 60) drew with Ajax 2 (Tadic 30-pen, Traore 38); Liverpool 2 (Jota 55, Salah 90+2-pen) bt Midtjylland 0.