Real Madrid denied by Borussia Dortmund

No team has ever retained the Champions League title -- and Real Madrid got a taste of how difficult it might prove after being held 2-2 by Borussia Dortmund Tuesday. Twice Real led and twice it was pegged back as Dortmund claimed a deserved point from an enthralling contest.

Cristiano Ronaldo's 95th Champions League goal had given the visiting side the lead before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leveled just before the interval.

Raphel Varane restored his side's advantage with 22 minutes remaining but Andre Schurrle's fierce effort ensured Dortmund finished level.

It was no more than Dortmund deserved after a thrilling encounter between two sides rarely shy in going forward.

Dortmund had scored 20 goals in its previous four matches in all competitions going into this tie but it was Real which struck first.

Zinedine Zidane's side, unbeaten in its previous 19 games, moved ahead after just 17 minutes when Ronaldo grabbed his customary goal.

The forward, who looked unhappy when he was substituted during his side's 2-2 draw at Las Palmas on Saturday, responded by firing home with aplomb after finding space in the Dortmund defense.

The home side, which had never lost to Real on German soil, responded with Aubameyang striking an effort against the crossbar with a fine effort.

And with two minutes of the first half remaining, Dortmund drew level with Aubameyang bundling the ball home after a mistake by Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

The second half brought yet more end-to-end football with both teams creating opportunities.

But it was Real which moved ahead once more with Ronaldo once again at the heart of the move.

It was his cross to the far post which picked out Karim Benzema and the striker's header allowed Varane to poke the ball home from close-range.

That goal appeared to have knocked Dortmund's spirit but the home side refused to give up and Schurrle fired in an unstoppable effort with just three minutes remaining to claim a point.

"The players played a great match, the result is a difficult one to accept because we deserved a bit more, but it is not a bad result," Zidane told reporters.

"I think in the first half we suffered a bit because they pressed a lot and we knew it is a difficult place to come against a good team, but I am very proud of the game we played."

In the group's other game, Sporting defeated Legia Warsaw 2-0.