Legia Warsaw 3-3 Real Madrid: Champions League holders held in six-goal thriller

Mateo Kovacic's 85th-minute equaliser helped Real Madrid avoid an embarrassing defeat at Legia Warsaw as the Champions League holders salvaged a 3-3 draw in the Polish capital.

Gareth Bale's stunning first-minute strike and Karim Benzema's second put the 11-time European Champions in firm control of Wednesday's Group F encounter, which was played behind closed doors after UEFA upheld a stadium ban on the hosts.

But goals from Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe, Miroslav Radovic and Thibault Moulin left Legia on the cusp on an historic victory and Real on the brink of a humbling first defeat to Polish opposition in Europe.

However, with five minutes remaining, Croatia international Kovacic spared Zinedine Zidane's blushes on his 100th game in charge of Real.

The point means Madrid now trail Borussia Dortmund - who qualified for the last 16 with victory against Sporting Lisbon - by two points at the top of Group F with two games to play.

In an empty stadium due to Legia's sanction for crowd trouble in their 6-0 thrashing by Dortmund in September, Bale celebrated his new bumper six-year Madrid deal in style by rifling a volley into the top corner after just 57 seconds.

A comfortable night looked in store for the visitors when a brilliant team move saw Kovacic feed Bale on the right side of the area and his cut-back was deposited into the bottom corner by Benzema 10 minutes before the interval.

However, five minutes later, Legia hit back with a stunning effort of their own as Odjidja-Ofoe finished off a fine individual effort by firing into the top corner.

Madrid have now not kept a clean sheet in 10 games and coach Zidane's decision to play an ultra-offensive 4-2-4 formation backfired after the break as their lack of numbers in defence was exposed.

Goalkeeper Keylor Navas was also to blame when he let Radovic's low effort slip under him for the equaliser just before the hour mark.

Real awoke from their slumber as Arkadiusz Malarz parried another fierce Bale volley before an off-colour Cristiano Ronaldo, who failed to hit in 99th and 100th goals in European competition, headed a great chance just wide.

Yet, Madrid were caught out on the counter-attack seven minutes from time when Moulin looked to have sealed the most unlikeliest of comebacks when his curling effort clipped the post on its way past a helpless Navas.

Real responded immediately as Kovacic drilled Dani Carvajal's back-heel into the bottom corner.

And Madrid could even have salvaged all three points deep into stoppage time when substitute Lucas Vazquez smashed the crossbar.