Legia draws with Real Madrid at empty Warsaw stadium

Real's Gareth Bale managed the first goal of the game just 57 seconds after the opening whistle, giving Real a much-expected lead.

A second goal was scored by Karim Benzema, bringing the score to 0:2 in a conspicuously quiet stadium.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, had banned fans from attending the game after recent violence by the fans of reigning Polish champions Legia Warszawa.

The score on Wednesday was equalised with two goals by Legia, one a strike by Legia's Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe before half time, and another by Miroslav Radović 15 minutes into the second half.

Just seven minutes before the final whistle, Legia's Thibault Moulin put the ball in the net, giving the Polish team an unlikely lead.

But the 3:2 result did not last long. A mere two minutes later, Real's Mateo Kovacic brought the score to a draw.

Still, the result was hailed as a major success for the Warsaw team, whose record has been marred by a string of losses in recent weeks.

Crowd trouble broke on 14 September at Legia’s first game in the Champions League in 20 years, when it was thrashed 0:6 on home turf by Borussia Dortmund.

Following that match, UEFA ordered Legia to hold Wednesday’s home game without fans.

The Warsaw side lost 1:5 away to Real Madrid on 18 October.

Legia was also beaten by Sporting Lisbon 0:2 on 27 September in its second match of the group stage. (rg)