Published on 12:00 AM, November 04, 2016

UEFA Champions League

Real held in 6-goal thriller

Legia Warsaw midfielder Thibault Moulin (R) embarks on a celebratory run after scoring the third goal against Real Madrid during their Champions League encounter in Warsaw on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Real Madrid blew a two-goal lead and the chance to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Legia Warsaw behind closed doors in the Polish capital.

Gareth Bale fired home Madrid's fastest ever Champions League goal after just 55 seconds before teeing up Karim Benzema for Real's second.

However, Legia launched a stunning fightback as goals from Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, Miroslav Radovic and Thibault Moulin put the Polish champions on the verge of a famous victory.

Mateo Kovacic salvaged some pride and a now 27-game unbeaten run for the European champions when he slotted home five minutes from time.

"It was strange with the stadium being empty, but it is no excuse," Bale told BeIN Sports Spain.

"We need to be better defensively and with our chances we need to be more clinical."

A draw means Madrid now trail Borussia Dortmund by two points at the top of Group F with two games to play.

Dortmund qualified for the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the other game in the group.

"I am the one responsible for all this," said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

"In the end we didn't lose and that is the good thing for us, but it is a strange sensation."

In front of an empty stadium due to Legia's sanction for violence and racist chanting in their 6-0 thrashing by Dortmund in September, Bale celebrated his new bumper six-year Madrid deal in style by rifling a volley into the top corner.

A comfortable night looked in store for the visitors when a brilliant team move saw Kovacic feed Bale on the right side of the area and his cut-back was deposited into the bottom corner by Benzema.

RESULTS 

Monaco 3 (Germain 12, Falcao 29, 41) CSKA Moscow 0

Tottenham Hotspur 0 Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Kampl 65)

Borussia Dortmund 1 (Ramos 12) Sporting Lisbon 0

Legia Warsaw 3 (Odjidja-Ofoe 40, Radovic 58, Moulin 83) Real Madrid 3 (Bale 1, Benzema 35, Kovacic 85)

FC Copenhagen 0 Leicester City 0

Porto 1 (Silva 37) Club Brugge 0

Sevilla 4 (Vietto 31, Escudero 66, Nzonzi 80, Ben Yedder 87) Dinamo Zagreb 0

Juventus 1 (Higuain 14-pen) Lyon 1 (Tolisso 85)