FRANKFURT: Real Madrid scored two goals in the final minutes with Karim Benzema and Casemiro to rescue a 2-2 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach in their Champions League Group B match to end a three-game losing run in the competition.

Marcus Thuram fired in for the lead in the 33rd minute and tapped in on the rebound in the 58th before Benzema cut the deficit in the 87th minute and Casemiro bagged a stoppage-time equaliser.

The 13-time European champions, who had lost their previous three games including a 3-2 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk last week, earned their first point in the competition.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said: “We didn’t think this would be such a drama but my team showed that they know how to react. We always play to win and show the hunger to win. No way were we happy with the draw.”

Gladbach, who also conceded a 90th-minute equaliser in their 2-2 draw at Inter Milan last week, are second in the group on two points, with Shakhtar top on four after a 0-0 draw with Inter.

Zidane had been hoping to carry his side’s momentum from their 3-1 weekend win over Barcelona in La Liga into the game. Yet despite their confidence in possession, chances were few and far between.

RESULTS- Gp A: Lok Moscow 1, Bayern 2; At. Madrid 3, Salzburg 2. Gp B: Shakhtar 0, Inter 0; Borussia Mg 2, Real Madrid 2. Gp C: Porto 2, Olympiacos 0; Marseille 0, Man. City 3. Gp D: Atalanta 2, Ajax 2; Liverpool 2, Midtjylland 0.

Borussia struck on the break with Alassane Plea pouncing on a Toni Kroos mistake to set up Thuram for his first goal in the competition.

Real initially had more spark after the break and hit the woodwork when Asensio’s 46th-minute shot was headed on to the crossbar.

Gladbach then struck against the run of play, with 23-year-old France youth international Thuram tapping in on the rebound after keeper Thibaut Courtois had pushed out a shot from Plea.

With the Germans thinking the game was already won, Real pulled a goal back when Casemiro headed on for Benzema, who became only the second player to score in 16 consecutive Champions League seasons.

The Brazilian Casemiro then dashed Gladbach’s hopes of a memorable win, driving the ball into the roof of the net in stoppage time.

Borussia coach Marco Rose said: “When you concede two late goals and drop the points it is not a good feeling, It came down to the quality of Real. We wanted to defend better until the end, but sometimes you need a little bit of luck and we didn’t have that tonight.”

New Liverpool injury

Liverpool had to battle to eventually beat Danish minnows FC Midtjylland 2-0, but were dealt a further injury blow as Fabinho limped off in the first half.

Diogo Jota and substitute Mohamed Salah netted second-half goals but the loss of Fabinho before half-time is what is most likely to take the headlines, adding to their defensive injury problems.

The Brazilian – playing at centre-back again in the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip – had to be substituted around the half-hour mark having pulled up while running.

That was amid an underwhelming display from the Reds in the first half, during which they failed to register a shot on target.

Jota then put Liverpool ahead in the 55th minute with a close-range finish and, shortly after the visitors had gone close to scoring a late equaliser through Anders Dreyer, substitute Salah added a penalty in stoppage time.

It made it two wins from two games in Champions League Group D for Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Klopp opted to drop Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to the bench for the match, along with Georginio Wijnaldum, as Divock Origi, Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri and James Milner started.

There was an early scare for the hosts as former Brighton man Dreyer latched on to a long pass forward, with his shot being saved by Alisson Becker, and the Brazilian goalkeeper then comfortably gathered a low free-kick from Pione Sisto.

Liverpool struggled as they looked to get some attacking rhythm going.

Trent Alexander-Arnold sent a cross towards Minamino, who was unable to connect, and the full-back saw his attempted pass to the Japan international intercepted after a good run into the box.

Minamino subsequently failed to get a shot away having been fed by Jordan Henderson, before Liverpool were hit by another defensive injury blow as Fabinho required treatment and had to be substituted, with 19-year-old Rhys Williams coming on in his place.

Jota and Milner had efforts blocked and Minamino headed wide in stoppage time as Liverpool got to half-time without having called Midtjylland goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen into action.

When Liverpool finally got a shot on target, 10 minutes into the second half, it gave them the lead.

Alexander-Arnold gave the ball to Shaqiri, received his delightful return pass and squared to Jota, who tapped in.

Five minutes later Klopp brought on Salah and Mane for Minamno and Origi, but it was Midtjylland who threatened next as their substitute Evander fired narrowly wide.

Salah shot off-target and Firmino, having also been brought on, also struck into the stand as the end of the contest drew near.

Dreyer then almost brought things level as he sent a dinked effort into the side-netting, before Salah sealed the three points for Liverpool, converting from the spot after referee Paweł Raczkowski judged he had been fouled by Paulinho.

Elsewhere…

Also in Group D, Atalanta fought back to draw 2-2 at home to Ajax.

Manchester City eased to a 3-0 away win in Marseille to take control of their group. Portugal defender Pepe made his 100th Champions League appearance as Porto edged out Olympiakos 1-0 in the other Group C clash.

Bayern Munich recorded a 13th straight Champions League win with a 2-1 Group A victory at Lokomotiv Moscow. The reigning champions took a 13th-minute lead when Leon Goretzka headed home Benjamin Pavard’s brilliant volleyed cross.

Anton Miranchuk levelled 20 minutes from time with a crisp finish, but Joshua Kimmich maintained Bayern’s winning run.

Atletico Madrid, beaten 4-0 by Bayern last week, returned to winning ways with a 3-2 victory over RB Salzburg.

Real Madrid produced a remarkable fightback to draw 2-2 at Borussia Monchengladbach and avoid losing their opening two games in the competition for the first time.

Inter Milan drew a blank for only the third time in 15 Champions League games with a 0-0 draw at Shakhtar.

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