Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Champions League group stage game between Real Madrid and Legia Warsaw at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.



After a tough few weeks in which they failed to pick up a single victory in four consecutive games, Real returned to winning ways on the weekend, and in emphatic fashion too, as they comfortably thrashed Real Betis 6-1. The win, their first since the middle of September, means that they are now unbeaten in their last 22 competitive clashes, setting them up perfectly for tonight’s contest against the champions of Poland.

Real have been hit with injuries to several key players in recent weeks, with Sergio Ramos, Casemiro, Luka Modric and James Rodriguez all missing out on the weekend. Zinedine Zidane is able to welcome back the latter tonight, however, and he is set to start as part of a midfield trio that could cause Legia plenty of problems.

Despite winning their 11th Ekstraklasa title last season, it’s been a tough start to the campaign for Legia, who have struggled in their opening 12 games and currently sit in a disappointing 13th place, 12 points behind league leaders Lechia Gdansk. Just one victory from six games resulted in former boss Besnik Hasi losing his job last month, whilst new manager and former player Jacek Magiera has also managed to win only once since taking charge.

Legia head to Madrid searching for their first points of the Champions League campaign, as so far it’s been an incredibly tough ride for the club from the capital. A 6-0 thumping at home to Borussia Dortmund was followed by a 2-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon, and the same could be on the cards this evening if they are unable to find a fix for the defensive problems that have plagued them this season.

There’s just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…

Real Madrid XI (4-3-3): Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Asensio, Kroos, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

Real Madrid substitutes: Casilla, Carvajal, Nacho, Kovacic, Isco, Vazquez, Morata.

Legia Warsaw XI (4-2-3-1): Malarz; Bereszynski, Czerwinski, Rzezniczak, Hlousek; Jodlowiec, Moulin; Guilherme, Odjidja-Ofoe, Kucharczyk; Radovic.

Legia Warsaw substitutes: Cierzniak, Broz, Dabrowski, Kopczynski, Hamalainen, Qazaishvili, Nikolics.

The two sides are making their way out on to the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.

1'And we're off! Real get us underway, attacking from right to left.

3'After a patient start to the game from both sides, Kroos picks up the ball on the halfway line and quickly tries to set up Danilo. The Brazilian embarks on a marauding run down the right flank as he tries to latch on to the ball, but, despite his best efforts, he's unable to keep it in play.

5'Ronaldo is tripped over in the middle of the pitch, resulting in a free-kick for Real in a dangerous position 35 yards away from the Legia goal. The Portuguese unleashes a thumping shot that hits the wall in front of him before bouncing into the path of Benzema, but the striker is unable to get a shot away and has to settle for a corner.

6'James picks up the ball just outside of the Legia penalty area and immediately tees up Ronaldo, who is in a good position to his right, but the Portuguese's low shot is deflected past Malarz and into the side- netting.

8'Chance for Bale! Ronaldo twists and turns deep down the left wing before curling a dangerous cross over to the far post, where Bale is waiting in a pocket of space, but the Welshman is unable to hit the target with his first-time effort and ends up sending it well wide of the goal.

10'Once again, Real are caught at the back after pushing too many bodies forward. Legia hit the home side on another swift counter- attack that this time ends with Jodlowiec on the right-hand side of the box, but he, like Moulin, is unable to beat Navas, who sticks out a foot to deny the number three.

12'Odjidja-Ofoe hits the post! Legia move the ball around nicely just outside of the Real penalty area before Guilherme tees up Odjidja- Ofoe on the edge of the box, and the Belgian then unleashes a great low strike that beats the outstretched limbs of Navas before hitting the woodwork. What a goal that would have been!

13'Real immediately try to hit Legia on a quick counter-attack as they look to take advantage of the amount of players camped far up the pitch, but Bale is unable to test Malarz with his long-range effort and instead sends it a few yards wide of the near post.

16'Goalllllllllll Gareth Bale

16'Assist Danilo Luiz da Silva

16'GOAL! Real have taken the lead! Danilo pokes the ball over to the right wing, where Bale is in a pocket of space. He takes on Hlousek and isn't closed down at all quickly enough by the full-back, allowing him to skip into the penalty area before firing a low shot past Malarz and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.


2-0

19'Goalllllllllllllllll Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior

19'Assist Karim Benzema

22'Penalty Goal Miroslav Radović

REAL MADRID vs LEGIA WARSZAWA LIVE UEFA Champions League 26' 2 - 1 Real Madrid G. Bale 16' Marcelo 19'

Legia Warszawa M. Radović 22

22'GOAL! Legia are back in the game! Radovic immediately grabs the ball and places it on the spot before side-footing a calm shot past Navas and into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. What a start to the game it's been!

24'The ball flies around the Legia penalty area as Real desperately try to re-establish their two-goal. Bale scuffs a close-range effort before the ball falls to Benzema near to the penalty spot, but the Frenchman's thumping effort is pushed away by a great save by Malarz.

26'Benzema latches on to the ball on the edge of the Legia box before teeing up Marcelo, who had made a gut-busting run down the left channel. The Brazilian's first cross fails to beat Bereszynski before the second penetrates the box, but Czerwinski is there to clear the danger at the near post.

26'Benzema latches on to the ball on the edge of the Legia box before teeing up Marcelo, who had made a gut-busting run down the left channel. The Brazilian's first cross fails to beat Bereszynski before the second penetrates the box, but Czerwinski is there to clear the danger at the near post.

26'Benzema latches on to the ball on the edge of the Legia box before teeing up Marcelo, who had made a gut-busting run down the left channel. The Brazilian's first cross fails to beat Bereszynski before the second penetrates the box, but Czerwinski is there to clear the danger at the near post.

27'Vital block by Rzezniczak! Real break away quickly before a low cross from Benzema picks out Ronaldo in the middle of the Legia penalty area, but as soon as Portuguese unleashes a shot he's closed down and dispossessed by Rzezniczak, who receives a boot to the knee as a result.

29'Real fail to clear the danger from the edge of their own penalty area, allowing Legia to keep pushing forward before winning themselves a corner over on the left wing. It's sent short before Guilherme attempts to whip a cross into the box, but there are plenty of white shirts there to deal with it.

30'Asensio goes close! Guilherme and Marcelo battle for the ball deep down the left wing, and it's the latter who comes out on top to win his side a corner. It's swung into the penalty area before being half-cleared to Asensio, and the youngster's rocket of a shot is well hit and flies just a yard or so over the top of the crossbar.