UEFA Champions League Round-up: Wednesday, Matchweek 4

A complete round up of all the Champions League action tonight...

Reigning champions held by courageous Warsaw
Legia Warsaw 3-3 Real Madrid

Legia Warsaw produced a stunning comeback and almost went on to defeat Real Madrid as Kovačić's late goal spared the Spaniards of an embarrassing loss behind closed doors.

Image: Sun Football

Doors were closed for the fixture after a sanctioning for fan behaviour, and the Poles would fall apart on the very first minute as Gareth Bale netted the quickest goal in his club's history. Warsaw barely had a chance to breathe as Cristiano Ronaldo's cross was clinically converted through an outstanding volley from his Welsh teammate.

Gareth Bale celebrated his new contract with an absolute worldie within 1 minute against Legia!🔥👏🏽 #UCL pic.twitter.com/n5SFhKCfc3

— Football Feast (@FootieFeasts) November 2, 2016

It prompted a landslide first-half period where the reigning champions bombarded the minnows, as the chances continued to flood in before an inevitable second goal after 35 minutes. Kovačić's vision was on the ball as he sliced through the defence to hand possession to Bale, assisting Karim Benzema for the finish as Los Blancos were in full control.

Down but not out, Legia Warsaw had something to cling on to over the interval thanks to Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe. He picked up the ball outside the area and executed some dazzling footwork to get it on to his left boot, connecting with a shot that darted into the top corner.



Cristiano Ronaldo and most of his galactico teammates now seemed somewhat flustered by the task presented by them, and that eventually lead to a facepalm moment from keeper Navas who was beaten by a toe-poked effort from the left by Miroslav Radović. With that, the teams were tied at two apiece and the Polish contingent had their names well in the mix for a huge result.

The hosts could not believe their fortunes when, less than 10 minutes from the full-time whistle, Thibault Moulin rifled into goal from outside the box after a convenient lay-off by Prijovic. Zinedine Zidane was shellshocked as he observed from the touchline, and now Warsaw were prepared to pile the bodies behind the ball to take a historic victory.

Image: Champions League

It would turn out to be too much of an ask though, as the gulf in class soon showed when Mateo Kovačić spared Real's blushes. Despite the white shirts getting in the way, Carvajal's backheel was ran on to by the Croatian who drove it into the back of the net on the first time of asking. Real Madrid went on to share the spoils with Legia Warsaw, and despite losing the lead late on, it's a result that will go down in local folklore.

Mateo Kovacic's game by numbers vs. Legia:

97% pass accuracy
2 chances created
2 shots
2 take-ons
1 late equaliser

To the rescue. pic.twitter.com/YUvNmCG8s6

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 2, 2016

Europa League juggernauts move on
Sevilla 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb

Sevilla officially withdrew themselves from winning a fourth Europa League title as they qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a statement of intent that they are ready to go further.

2014: 🏆
2015: 🏆
2016: 🏆
2017: ❌

Sevilla qualify for #UCL knockouts - so no more Europa League glory this time! https://t.co/TOP2UeJ9hl pic.twitter.com/Um0f9dWgKd

— TheFootyMatrix ⚽ (@TSM_Football) November 2, 2016

The Croatians appeared far more capable than they were in the first fixture, although they would soon be unravelled by Luciano Vietto's opening goal. From a tight angle he managed to creep his shot into the back of the net, and a second yellow for Stojanovič which gave him his marching orders really opened the floodgates for the second half.

After an array of chances, they finally created daylight through Escudero, who linked up neatly with Vitolo to knock it past the keeper and set up for a strong finish. N'Zonzi was eager to get on the scoresheets as well having hit the woodwork in the first period.

Image: Somos Sevilla

He got his goal after 80 minutes of football by getting his head on the end of a corner kick, before it became an official rout when Ben Yedder was fortunate to be the target of another excellent cross to wrap things up with a four-goal thumping.

Buffon finally beaten as Lyon deny Italian kings
Juventus 1-1 Lyon

Lyon denied Juventus of doing the double on them as Gianluigi Buffon was finally beaten by the French side in the final minutes by Tolisso.

Image: Squawka

Gonzalo Higuaín continued his return to scoring form after ending his drought against Napoli at the weekend by netting a penalty inside 13 minutes. Sturaro was felled by Diakhaby and the Argentine would make the home ground rock with a strong shot into the bottom corner.

It remained frantic as The Old Lady's attempt to seize full control of the game was thwarted, and sometimes at their own discretion after Mandžukić found Higuaín whose shot sailed over the bar in a chance that would eventually be rued.

Image: Politique Atqus

With the full-time whistle now around the corner, Allegri didn't even need to instruct his team on what to do. The black-and-white shirts got back and defended with everything on their line, but unlike in France, Buffon would end up getting beaten. A set-piece was impeccably delivered by Ghezzal where Tolisso got the final touch on the diverted ball to hold the Italian champions.

BVB hold on to progress to knockouts
Dortmund 1-0 Sporting Lisbon

Adrian Ramos headed Dortmund into the knockout stages of the tournament as the Germans held on to get their second straight win over the Portugese.

Sporting were certainly encouraged by the news which broke prior to the game, as the prolific Aubameyang was dropped for "internal reasons". On the pitch though, they would be undone by different personnel, as Adrian Ramos directed Ginter's cross powerfully into the back of the net, and ultimately that would seal the deal.

They wanted to wrap things up throughout the whole game, with an abundance of chances, but it was Ruiz who came closest in the second half with the header. A sigh of relief, rather than expectation would be the result as the full time whistle was greeted at the Westfalen Stadion.

Image: BVB

Falcao preys on CSKA
Monaco 3-0 CSKA Moscow

Radamel Falcao netted a double to add to German's opener as three first-half goals from Monaco made for a comfortable hosting of CSKA Moscow.

Image: Soccer Memes

Monaco were looking to get the job done early and they were off to a fantastic start as Germain pounced on a poor clearance to deny Akinfeev of a Champions League cleansheet once again.

The Russians were looking outsized after half an hour of action, as Radamel Falcao headed Mendy's cross from the left, and then doubled his tally right before the half-time whistle by getting on to Germain's loose ball and bundling it in. It made for a comfortable second half for the hosts, who were propelled by their sensational captain.

41 goals in 46 matches in all European competitions for Falcao.

Best ratio of all players who have 30+ goals

(@2010MisterChip ) pic.twitter.com/BTIlLIT6yX

— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) November 2, 2016

More Wembley misery as Spurs fall to Leverkusen
Tottenham 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Tottenham once again were off the beat at Wembley Stadium as their hopes were dumped into turmoil through a lone goal from Kampl handing Leverkusen the victory.

Image: Siaran Bola Live

It was drab to say the least in the national stadiu as Tottenham struggled to strike a chord in the first half, and their misery was compounded when the Germans were rewarded for their persistence and broke the deadlock through Kampl. Aránguiz's shot ricocheted into his path, where he calmly controlled it and swept it past Lloris. Alli could have changed fortunes for his side when he was clipped in the box but his light penalty appeal was waved off.

As the Spurs fans began to head for Wembley Central underground station, Eric Dier almost tugged it back for the Londoners with a stunning free-kick that crashed off the bar. Boos would ring around at the full-time whistle, with Tottenham clearly struggling, but no clear reason as to why.

Image: ESPN UK

Porto send Brugge packing
Porto 1-0 Club Brugge

André Silva's first-half header seperated the Portugese side and Brugge at the Estádio do Dragão for a win at the stadium for the first time in 5 attempts, while also sending their opponents out of the tournament having been defeated in all their fixtures.

Image: UEFA

Copenhagen and Leicester fail to hit the mark
Copenhagen 0-0 Leicster

Leicester's perfect record was brought to an end in the only goalless game of the night, as Copenhagen held them to a draw in a rather lifeless 90 minutes. Schmeichel kept his clean sheet record with a last-minute save and also it meant that the English champions remain in control.

Image: Getty Images