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Rediff.com  » Sports » Champions League PIX: Five-star Real hammer Warsaw; Spurs held

Champions League PIX: Five-star Real hammer Warsaw; Spurs held

Last updated on: October 19, 2016 10:04 IST
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Images from Champions League matches played across Europe on Tuesday

Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez celebrates with teammate Alvaro Morata after scoring a goal against Legia Warsaw at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Madrid, on Tuesday

IMAGE: Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez celebrates with teammate Alvaro Morata after scoring a goal against Legia Warsaw at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Madrid, on Tuesday. Photograph: Javier Barbancho/Reuters

Gareth Bale scored his first European goal in almost two years as holders Real Madrid moved into a commanding position in Champions League Group F after cruising to a 5-1 victory over Legia Warsaw on Tuesday.

Bale gave the hosts the lead in the 16th minute with a curled left-foot drive and an own goal by Legia's Tomasz Jodlowiec, deflecting in Marcelo's shot, doubled their advantage.

Miroslav Radovic pulled one back for the Poles from the penalty spot but Marco Asensio made it 3-1 in the 37th minute with a low shot on his Champions League debut.

Substitute Lucas Vazquez volleyed home a cross in the 68th minute and former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata rounded off the win by converting a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 84th.

Real are second in Group F, level on seven points with Borussia Dortmund, and both teams will seal their place in the last 16 if Zinedine Zidane's side win at Legia and the Germans beat Sporting Lisbon at home on Nov. 2.

"I'm happy with the result, with the goals and the performance," Zidane told BeIN sports.

"Of course we can improve, our objective was to play very attacking football and we took risks, conceding a few chances, but the important thing was to win and accumulate points, and that's what we did."

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo takes a free kick during the Group F match against Legia Warszaw on Tuesday

IMAGE: Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo takes a free kick during the Group F match against Legia Warszaw on Tuesday. Photograph: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

There was trouble outside the Santiago Bernabeu stadium before kickoff on Tuesday, with five supporters and two police officers suffering minor injuries, according to local media reports.

On the pitch, Legia nearly caused the holders an early surprise with Jodlowiec shooting straight at Keylor Navas and midfielder Vadis Odjidja hitting the post.

Real took the lead soon after though, Bale cutting inside from the right to strike into the far corner for his first European goal since December 2014.

Jodlowiec turned in Marcelo's shot soon after but a foul by Real defender Danilo allowed Radovic to reduce the deficit from 11 metres and net Legia's first Champions League goal for 21 years.

Twenty-year-old winger Marco Asensio built on his impressive start to his Real career by netting his fourth goal of the season after being teed up by Ronaldo.

Ronaldo turned provider again by releasing substitute Morata for the fifth goal after Vazquez had lashed home the fourth.

The prolific Portuguese narrowly missed out on adding to his haul of 98 goals in European competition by striking wide of the far post.

"Ronaldo played phenomenally, playing passes to everyone else," added Zidane.

"He didn't score today but we have a game in four days' time (against Athletic Bilbao) and I'm sure he'll have chances to score then."

Keeper Lloris rescues point for Spurs at Leverkusen

Tottenham's Hugo Lloris makes a save from Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez (not pictured)

IMAGE: Tottenham's Hugo Lloris makes a save from Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez (not pictured) during their match at BayArena, Leverkusen. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay Livepic/Reuters

Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham Hotspur fought out a goalless draw in their Champions League Group E match on Tuesday, with the English club having keeper Hugo Lloris to thank for keeping a clean sheet.

The visitors were in control of the first half, hitting the woodwork through Vincent Janssen, while Leverkusen were in complete command after the break, squandering half a dozen scoring opportunities.

French keeper Lloris repeatedly came to Spurs' rescue in the second half, including saving a Javier Hernandez effort on the line.

The result leaves Tottenham on four points, one behind AS Monaco, who drew 1-1 at CSKA Moscow. Leverkusen are third on three, having yet to win a game, with the Russians last, a point behind.

"We should thank Hugo tonight," said Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino.

"Hugo's save (from Hernandez) was brilliant. He's one of the best, that is my opinion.

"It was a tough game. In the end I'm pleased with a point. We were better in the first half, they were better in the second."

Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez and with Tottenham's Eric Dier vie for possession

IMAGE: Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez and Tottenham's Eric Dier vie for possession. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay Livepic/Reuters

Tottenham got off to a better start and put the ball in the net after 10 minutes only for Son Heung-min, a former Leverkusen player, to be correctly ruled offside.

The English club, with Eric Dier replacing injured Toby Alderweireld, defended well, shutting out Leverkusen in the first 45 minutes.

Dele Alli should have done better when he charged into the box but headed a fine Kieran Trippier cross wide.

Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno then rescued his team in the 39th minute, tipping an Erik Lamela shot over the bar after Janssen's header had bounced off the woodwork.

The hosts struggled to break into the box in the first half but three minutes after the break Hernandez, who never scored in his four years with Manchester United against Spurs, thought he had done enough when he fired on goal from three metres out.

But Lloris made a fantastic save on the line with goal-line technology showing the ball was not fully over, leaving the Mexican wondering how he could have missed.

Lloris then denied Charles Aranguiz, parrying his free kick and also making another almost identical from an Admir Mehmedi shot on the hour as Leverkusen overran their opponents.

Stefan Kiessling had the chance to win it for the home team five minutes from time but the ball bounced off his shin.

The teams will meet again in London on November 2

Juventus edge Lyon in 1-0 win

Juventus' Juan Cuadrado celebrates after scoring against Olympique Lyon at Stade de Lyon in Decines, France

IMAGE: Juventus' Juan Cuadrado celebrates after scoring against Olympique Lyon at Stade de Lyon in Decines, France. Photograph: Robert Pratta/Reuters

Less than two weeks after making a rare blunder with Italy, goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was back to his vintage best on Tuesday as Juventus snatched a 1-0 win at Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League.

Juan Cuadrado netted the only goal but Buffon was the man of the match, saving Alexandre Lacazette's 35th minute penalty before making a couple of sensational saves after the break while Juve were down to 10 men following Mario Lemina's sending off.

"We gave everything tonight, it was a tactical battle. We lost but we were up against a great Buffon. He was sensational," Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons said.

The Juve players also knew who they had to thank for the result, all going to congratulate their 38-year-old keeper after the final whistle was blown.

Buffon dived onto his left to save Lacazette's penalty after Leonardo Bonucci brought down Mouctar Diakhaby in the box and he was still alert after the break.

He palmed away Nabil Fekir's shot with his right hand in the 50th minute and was magnificent again in the 71st, stopping Corentin Tolisso's downward header from point-blank range.

"It was important not to lose that game when we found ourselves down to 10 men," Buffon said.

"We suffered a lot but we were a bit lucky. In these matches, the little details make the difference.

"I'm just happy that I could help my team mates."

The result left Juve top of Group H with seven points from three games ahead of Sevilla, who beat Dinamo Zagreb 1-0, on goal difference.

Lyon are third on three points two weeks before travelling to Turin.

Dortmund hang on to win thriller against Sporting

Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl celebrates his goal with teammate Christian Pulisic during their match against Sporting Lisbon in Lisbon

IMAGE: Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl celebrates his goal with teammate Christian Pulisic during their match against Sporting Lisbon in Lisbon. Photograph: Rafael Marchante/Reuters

First-half goals by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Weigl set Borussia Dortmund up for a 2-1 win at Sporting on Tuesday although they had to survive a second-half rally in Champions League Group F.

Bruno Cesar pulled the Portuguese league runners-up back into the game when he scored from an indirect free kick midway through the second half but Borussia held on, leaving them on seven points and Sporting with three.

The hosts, without coach Jorge Jesus who was suspended, made a bright start but the Bundesliga side struck the first blow.

Aubameyang outmuscled Ruben Semedo as the two chased the ball, left the defender on the ground and dinked the ball over Rui Patricio with his left foot in the ninth minute.

Sporting thought they had levelled in the 39th minute when Sebastian Coates turned the ball in at the far post from a corner but it was controversially disallowed for a push on goalkeeper Roman Buerki.

Dortmund went further ahead two minutes before halftime as Weigl won a loose ball, evaded a tackle and side-footed a shot into the far corner from the edge of the area, the 21-year-old's first goal for the club since he joined them one year ago.

It was harsh on Sporting and the Lions hauled themselves back into the game after Buerki was forced to pick up a poor back pass from Marc Bartra.

William Carvalho touched the ball to substitute Cesar who blasted it through the wall of Dortmund players on the goal line in the 67th minute.

Bas Dost nearly levelled with a header almost immediately, Buerki did well to save a dangerous Ezequiel Schelotto cross and Sporting then failed to find a finishing touch to a Gelson Martins shot as the Germans clung on.

"Today a young and inexperienced team played with such self-confidence during the first half," said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel.

"Sporting took big risks after our goals....after scoring to make it 2-1 their fans got louder."

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