Zidane “angry” as Real surrender lead and top spot

Two goals from Karim Benzema were not enough to give Real Madrid the win they needed to finish as leaders of Group F in the Champions League as Borussia Dortmund fought back from 2-0 down to take a draw in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The dismal performance prompted manager Claudio Ranieri, who has overseen a poor defence of the Foxes’ league title while thriving on European nights, to admit afterwards: “I want us to show our character and our strength”.

Reus felt the comeback was an important display of character.

“We can have no influence in the draw, but against any opponents we will play to our limit to reach the next stage”.

And Dortmund picked up where they left off after the break, with exciting youngster Ousmane Dembele firing wide of the mark on 49 minutes, just moments before Castro drew another save from Weidenfeller. Cristiano Ronaldo’s team were left with the consolation of matching the club’s 34-game unbeaten streak that had stood since the late 1980s.

Not so, however. Perhaps physically and mentally exhausted following their exertions in the Clasico on Saturday, Madrid seemed to lose concentration late in the game and, after a good goal brought BVB back in it, a Marcelo mistake allowed Thomas Tuchel’s team to break away and score the equaliser. “We did our game and, finally, the point is fine”, the African player said. However, with Porto’s convincing win against Leicester, victory in Brugge could only take them as far as the Europa League.

In Group H, Juventus finished on top after beating Dinamo Zagreb 2-0 in Turin.

Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at the Bernabau means Real finish Group F second behind the Germans.

“You are playing the best teams in Europe so you can’t rely on away results which we have done this season”, said Kane.

“You have to congratulate the players”, insisted Zidane humbly after Madrid had to settle for qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League in second place behind Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday. His current total is 98.

Benzema wasn’t to be denied on 28 minutes when he bundled home Dani Carvajal’s low cross at the back post.

They did not have to wait much longer as eight minutes after half-time a brilliant cross from Rodriguez saw Benzema rise between centre-backs Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Marcel Schmelzer to score with a downward header.

And that miss proved costly as Aubameyang stormed past Sergio Ramos and produced the ideal cross for Reus to slide home the equaliser.

Dortmund’s campaignincluded 6-0 and 8-4 routs against Legia.

“It’s important to continue to make history and continue our good run”, Zidane said. He had also come close 10 minutes earlier with a right-foot strike that forced a hard cross-handed save by Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller.

“For the decisive goal, it looked like Aubameyang had crossed it one touch too late”, Tuchel told reporters at his post-match media conference.