Real Madrid have been made to wait to secure qualification into the knockout round of the Champions League after being held to a 3-3 draw at the home of Polish side Legia Warsaw on Wednesday night.
A stadium ban, which stemmed from crowd trouble, prevented supporters from being allowed inside the ground, but the lack of atmosphere did not harm what was a brilliant game of football in Warsaw.
Legia came from two goals behind to lead entering the latter stages of the Group F match, but Mateo Kovacic equalised in the 85th minute as Los Blancos, who remain second in the section, continued their unbeaten record in this season's competition.
Much of the talk in the build-up to the match was whether Real Madrid boss Zidane Zidane would select in-form Alvaro Morata or tried-and-trusted Karim Benzema alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the final third of the field.
Zidane took that problem away by naming both centre-forwards in his XI, while there was a first start of the season for experienced Portuguese left-back Fabio Coentrao, who has struggled with injuries over the last couple of seasons.
As for Legia, Miroslav Radovic's goal at the Bernabeu in the reverse match kept his spot in the team, while key players Michal Pazdan and Nemanja Nikolic both returned to Jacek Magiera's first selection.
It took less than 60 seconds for Real Madrid to make the breakthrough and the goal came from Bale as the Welshman found the top corner with a stunning effort on the half-volley, which flew past Legia goalkeeper Arkadiusz Malarz.
Legia's first effort of any note came in the 10th minute when Thibault Moulin struck one from outside the box, but the ball was always moving wide of Keylor Navas's post during what was an end-to-end period of the match.
Ronaldo came close to doubling Real Madrid's lead in the 17th minute after meeting a corner from Toni Kroos, but Pazdan was back to clear off the line, before Malarz produced a smart save to keep out Benzema's curling effort.
Real Madrid continued to create opportunities and should have scored a second from a Kroos corner in the 25th minute, but neither Bale nor Benzema could scramble home from close range, before Ronaldo's inventive back-heel was blocked on the line as Legia survived another dangerous moment.
The visitors did have their second 10 minutes before the interval, however, when a wonderful passing move concluded with Bale poking the ball in to Benzema, who expertly picked out the bottom corner to make it 2-0 late in the first period.
Legia hit back in spectacular fashion though as Vadis Odjidja worked some space outside the Real Madrid in the 40th minute before finding the top corner to give the home side something to cheer and keep the visitors honest ahead of the second 45 minutes of action.
Real Madrid started the second period on the front foot and had two opportunities to score a third in the 50th minute, but Bale was denied by Malarz, before Ronaldo hit the side-netting from a tight angle.
Legia had a chance of their own in the 53rd minute with Guilherme stood over a free kick just outside the Real Madrid box after being felled by Coentrao, but the Brazilian's effort kissed the top of the away side's net. Bale had a free kick in a similar position down the other end three minutes later, but the Welshman missed the target.
The home side incredibly levelled the scores in the 58th minute when Radovic, who netted a penalty at the Bernabeu, raced away from the Real Madrid midfield before finding the bottom corner with a low strike.
Benzema almost scored a third for Real Madrid in the 63rd minute when he found space inside the Legia box, but his low effort was deflected wide of the post, before Ronaldo headed a Dani Carvajal cross just wide as it remained 2-2.
Ronaldo had another free kick 20 minutes from time as the pressure continued, but the Portuguese's effort was kept out by Malarz, before heading a Kovacic over the crossbar as opportunities continued to arrive for the Spanish giants.
A sensational block from Legia centre-back Pazdan frustrated Ronaldo once again 15 minutes from time, before both managers made changes ahead of what promised to be an enthralling final 10 minutes of action in Warsaw.
Indeed, that was what occurred as Legia took the lead in the 83rd minute with a strike from Moulin, but Real Madrid were level two minutes later when Kovacic swept the ball into the bottom corner after a clever back-heel from Carvajal.
Real Madrid so nearly won it in second-half stoppage time when substitute Lucas Vazquez fired one towards the top corner, but the Spaniard hit the crossbar as the points were shared on the night.
Legia, who can still finish third in Group F, will travel to group leaders Borussia Dortmund in their next European match on November 22. Real Madrid, meanwhile, will continue their battle for top spot when they travel to Sporting Lisbon on the same night.
Matt Law
