Real Madrid scored two late goals to snatch a dramatic Champions League point against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Thirteen-time European Champions Real were 2-0 down in the 87th minute before goals from Karim Benzema and Casemiro saw them earn a thrilling draw.
Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram scored with a fine finish from Alassane Plea’s pass and added a second when Thibaut Courtois could only parry Plea’s shot.
Benzema’s overhead kick gave Real hope before Casemiro’s 93rd-minute leveller.
Monchengladbach, playing in the group stages of the Champions League for only their third campaign, were heading top of Group B until Real’s late double.
The hosts had chances to kill the game off when they lead 2-0 as Plea could have added a third when he broke clear of the visiting defence but was denied a one-on-one chance with Courtois.
Lars Stindl also shot narrowly wide for Monchengladbach, who have drawn both of their group matches 2-2 after a similar scoreline away at Inter Milan last week.
Real have one point from their two games after a shock 3-2 opening defeat by Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, who top the group.
“For me, this draw is not a relief, it’s a deserved result,” said Real coach Zinedine Zidane.
“We had an opponent who had us in trouble on two or three occasions, but we didn’t panic and came back with character.
“If we continue to play like that, we’ll do great things and we’ll win matches, that’s for sure.”
Real avoid unwanted club record
Spanish champions Real were only seconds away from setting an unwanted club record as they were on the verge of losing four consecutive European matches for the first time in their history – including both legs of last season’s last-16 defeat by Manchester City and the game against Shakhtar.
Since that loss, Real beat Barcelona 3-1 at the Nou Camp in El Clasico on Saturday and would have been confident of defeating a Monchengladbach side sixth in the German Bundesliga.
Zidane’s side made a bright start as Benzema shot wide, Sergio Ramos glanced a header off target and Toni Kroos had an effort saved by Yann Sommer.
But those missed chances proved costly as the hosts went ahead in the 33rd minute as Plea’s fine pass, which went through the legs of Raphael Varane and cut out Lucas Vazquez, was met by an excellent first-time finish from Thuram for the first of his two goals.
Ferland Mendy hit the crossbar for Real within seconds of the restart, before Thuram, the son of ex-France international Lilian, added his second after Courtois could only parry the ball into his path.
Real brought on ex-Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric and former Chelsea forward Eden Hazard for his first appearance of the season in an attempt to rescue the game.
And the visitors pulled one back when Casemiro did well to reach a header and stop the ball going out of play, with it falling into Benzema’s path and he scored acrobatically.
But Real were not finished and in the third minute of stoppage time a cushioned header from captain Ramos reached Casemiro and he steered his finish into the net
Real have reached at least the last 16 of the Champions League in every one of the past 23 seasons, and are in the same position as last year when they only picked up one point from their opening two games before reaching the knockout stages.
Nevertheless, Real, Champions League winners on three occasions in Zidane’s two spells in charge, find themselves bottom of Group B with a lot of work to do.
