Real Madrid vs. Legia Warsaw: Score, Reaction from 2016 Champions League Match

Off the pitch, traveling Legia Warsaw ultras clashed with Madrid police before the club's match against Real Madrid, according to AS English. On the pitch, Legia put up a fight but were ultimately outclassed, as Los Blancos won 5-1 in Champions League Group F play on Tuesday. 

Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez and Alvaro Morata all scored for the Liga side—and Cristiano Ronaldo provided two assists—rendering moot Miroslav Radovic's first-half penalty conversion for Legia.

Squawka Football shared the game's final statistics:

Los Blancos, to be expected, raced out to the early lead in the 16th minute. Bale toyed with his defender down the right flank before creating space on his left foot and unleashing a rocket that slipped inside the post to give Real Madrid a 1-0 lead.

That goal surely came as a relief to Bale given his long goalless streak in the Champions League, as Squawka Football noted:

Four minutes later, Marcelo struck for the Liga powerhouse, as his shot on the edge of the box deflected off of a Legia Warsaw player and ricocheted into the net.

Legia would pull one back in the 22nd minute, however. Radovic put the moves on Danilo, who unwisely stuck out a leg as he was falling backwards, tripping Radovic and giving Warsaw a penalty. Radovic then stepped up to the spot and buried the penalty, drawing Legia closer, 2-1.

But Real Madrid had an answer of their own. This time Los Blancos hit Legia on a lovely bit of buildup play, culminating in a cheeky flick from Ronaldo in the box to Asensio. The midfielder took it from there, ripping a shot between a Legia defender's legs and into the lower-right corner to give Real Madrid a 3-1 lead.

Asensio certainly knows how to make a debut, as ESPN Stats & Information tweeted:

And the two clubs provided an entertaining first half, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC:

Real Madrid put the game away for good in the 68th minute, however. One second-half substitution, Morata, found another, Vazquez, with a cross. The attacker brilliantly finished, smashing a volley into the bottom-right corner to give Los Blancos a 4-1 advantage. 

Real Madrid weren't done, this time hitting Legia on the counter in the 84th minute. Ronaldo played the role of facilitator again, flipping a pass down the left side to the onrushing Morata, who beat Arkadiusz Malarz at the near post to make it 5-1.

Jack Lang of ESPN FC joked about Asencio and Morata finding the netting:

Ultimately, it wasn't the club's most dominant performance, even if the scoresheet might have indicated otherwise, as Corrigan noted:

The two sides will face off again on Nov. 2, with Legia needing a win to stay in the running for a knockout-phase berth. Real Madrid, meanwhile, is in an excellent position to win Group F after taking seven points from its first three group-stage fixtures.

Nonetheless, Borussia Dortmund—also on seven points after three games—and Sporting still loom in the group, leaving Los Blancos with plenty of work ahead of them.

Post-Match Reaction

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

After the contest, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was pleased with his charges, per AS English:

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Zidane admitted he was "happy with the result, the goals, with the way the game went." Though he admitted, after a game in which Real Madrid struggled to control the play despite the healthy score-line, that "things can be improved. Our approach was to attack, we took risks and gave our opponents chances," said Zidane. The main thing for Zidane however is "winning and picking up points, which we've done."

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He did admit, however, that starting James Rodriguez and Asensio in midfield—two attack-minded players—altered the team's balance.

"Defensively, the balance of the team was not perfect sometimes," he said, according to ESPN. "They did not really make chances, but were able to counter-attack easily sometimes. But that was the option taken and we played a bit more attacking today. Sunday will be another game and a different team."

Asensio, meanwhile, talked about getting the opportunity to start for Los Blancos.

"I am trying to make the most I can out of the opportunities the coach gives me," he told AS English. "And if I can contribute goals, which help the team to win, then even better. I've very happy with the win."

He added: "It's the only downside to tonight's game—not keeping a clean sheet, but we will get better at that as we get more games under our belt."

And Asensio seems likely to only get better as well. Given how well he's played in his debut's in various competitions, his potential seems immense.
 
   

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