Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid: 2016 Champions League Match Score, Reaction

Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League, with Andre Schurrle salvaging a point late on for the hosts.

After some early Dortmund pressure, Cristiano Ronaldo added the final flourish to a fine counter-attack in the 17th minute to put the visitors ahead. But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang capitalised on an error from Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas to level things before the interval.

In the second period, Madrid grabbed control of a breathless contest and took a deserved lead through centre-back Raphael Varane. However, Dortmund rallied, and substitute Schurrle pounced three minutes from time to make it 2-2.

Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane made some big calls in his starting lineup, with first-choice stopper Navas making his return to the XI after injury. ESPN FC’s Dermot Corrigan suggested it was a risky decision:

With so many attacking stars on show, this contest was never likely to start slowly. And both Ronaldo and Gonzalo Castro forced saves from the goalkeepers with stinging free-kicks early on.

Dortmund set the tempo in the nascent stages, as they pinned Madrid back without finding the final pass in the opening 15 minutes. They were left to lament some poor choices in the final third, though.

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Madrid showed their potency on the counter-attack with a wonderful break, as Ronaldo eventually hammered home his 98th goal in European competition from close range after Gareth Bale’s deflected backheel fell kindly for him. Per OptaJose, the Portuguese loves playing at the Westfalenstadion:

Dortmund continued to pile forward after conceding, with Ousmane Dembele going close after neat work on the right-hand side. The Bundesliga side were leaving themselves open, though, with James Rodriguez failing to release a well-placed Ronaldo on the counter.

As the half motored on, Madrid looked to have found a foothold in the game and started to shut down Dortmund’s major attacking threats, with Aubameyang’s influence minimal in general play. However, a clanger from Navas allowed the Gabon international to restore parity on the cusp of half-time.

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Raphael Guerreiro’s free-kick lacked power, but it was fumbled by the Madrid goalkeeper into Varane, and Aubameyang was there to bundle home on the goal line. Former Norway forward Jan Aage Fjortoft wasn’t impressed with the Costa Rican stopper:

Ronaldo thought he’d put Madrid back in front before half-time, although his looping header was correctly chalked off for offside before the referee called time on a pulsating 45 minutes.

When the action resumed, it was Dortmund again who forced the issue, with Navas doing a lot better with an Aubameyang strike on goal.

Ronaldo remained a potent threat, too, and should have done better with a fine cross from Sergio Ramos. Karim Benzema then saw his shot on goal blocked, with Madrid again countering with purpose and starting to gather momentum while approaching the final stages.

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It was no surprise when they took the lead shortly after. The equaliser came from an unlikely source in the 68th minute—especially with so much attacking talent on show—as Varane prodded home after Benzema’s effort ricocheted off the post. Corrigan hailed Ronaldo’s role in the goal too:

Dortmund responded well again, with Navas parrying away Guerreiro's left-footed drive. The Yellow Wall roared and still believed in their team with 15 minutes remaining, although as they piled forward, there were massive spaces for Ronaldo and Co. to exploit; the Portuguese had a couple of fine chances to double Madrid's late on.

Navas was on hand to thwart Dortmund twice, with Adrian Ramos and Christian Pulisic unable to draw the German side level.

The pressure was building, though, and eventually the Westfalenstadion got its wish, with Schurrle thrashing home with his left foot after Pulisic's cross. Madrid's defending left much to be desired.

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As ESPN's Taylor Twellman noted, although Schurrle will grab the headlines, the United States international made a major impact off the bench:

After he was substituted to an unhappy reaction against Las Palmas on Saturday, there had been a lot of focus on Ronaldo coming into this game. While he'll be pleased to have netted, the forward will lament not putting this game to bed with the score 2-1 in his team's favour.

While this wasn't their most rounded performance, Dortmund deserve great credit for coming back on two occasions against such strong opposition. Here's hoping the return fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is just as brilliant an affair.

Post-Match Reaction

Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel lamented his team's lapse in standard early in the second period that allowed Real to take control, per Bleacher Report's Rik Sharma:

Meanwhile, Zidane made no secret of his disappointment not to take all three points, per Corrigan: