Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid draw in classic

Football is about much more than what happens on the pitch, but this evening’s game between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid encapsulated precisely why we fell in love with the playing part: two teams of invention, conviction and intensity doing everything possible to beat one another.

Dortmund dominated possession in the first half, Julian Weigel controlling midfield to facilitate the explosive talents of Ousmane Dembele and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But Madrid always looked dangerous on the break, and a sweeping, precise move led to Gareth Bale forcing a back heel into the path of Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished with typical alacrity.

And Madrid looked likely to carry that lead into half-time, only for Keylor Navas to punch out Raphael Guerrero’s free-kick for no reason whatsoever, picking out the back of Raphael Varian’s head. The ball was on its way in, but Aubameyang made sure to force it over the line from on the line.

In the second half, Madrid were the better side, and their goal, a Varane header from a Ronaldo cross, was coming. But it sparked Dortmund back into life and they equalised with three minutes remaining, Andre Schurrle swiping home a brilliant rising drive from a difficult angle.

Naturally, both teams pressed for the winner but neither could find it; happily we have only a couple of months to wait before we see them play again. If only everything was always this good.

Dortmund have not only a ridiculous team but a ridiculous squad, packed with exciting young players acquired for reasonable sums of money (in the context). It is possible, and other clubs should be ashamed of themselves for allowing it to happen.

It could've been more or less anyone, but Aubameyang was a constant threat with his pace and movement, a one-man forward line who gave Sergio Ramos as much as he could handle.

Borussia Dortmund: Burki 6, Piszczek 6, Sokratis 8, Ginter 6, Schmelzer 6, Weigl 8, Dembele 7, Gotze 6, Castro 6, Guerreiro 7, Aubameyang 8. Subs: Pulisic 7, Schurrle 7, Mor 7.

Real Madrid: Navas 5, Carvajal 7, Ramos 6, Varane 7, Danilo 6, Kroos 7, Modric 6, James 7, Ronaldo 8, Benzema 6, Bale 6. Subs: Kovacic 6, Morata 6.

Since the start of the 2013-14 season, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 45 Champions League goals, 18 more than any other player. He is good at football.

17 - GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Real Madrid 1 (Him) This is a lovely sweeping move, Benzema finding Kroos who sweeps a lovely crossfield ball through Ronaldo, who steps over it, and out to James at inside-right. He slots a pass through for Bale who, inside the box, forces a backheel through Schmelzer and Ronaldo does the rest, lashing a shot past Burki.

33 - Dembele produces some kind of tread-on-the-ball squirting backheel, and Piszczek's resultant cross is deflected behind. Dembele takes the corner himself and picks out Sokratis, but his powerful header is right at Navas, who for reasons known best to himself opts to punch clear.

43 - GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Real Madrid (Aubameyang). This is hilarious! Guerreiro lobs a shot over the wall that Navas might catch after making himself a mug of Vimto. But again, he punches, directly into Varan'e bonce, and the ball shoots past him whole Aubameyang tries to snaffle the goal on the line.

61 - Great chance for Ronaldo! Ramos lifts a delectable long pass over the defence and he's pulling away, towards the far post. He really should score; he almost always scores; but he can't control his header and sends it wide.

68 - AND THERE IT IS! GOAL! Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Real Madrid (Varane) Ronaldo takes the corner short to Kroos, takes the ball back, now close to the corner of the box, and curves a delicious cross to the back post. Benzema is there alone, volleying from a tight angle and hitting the near post and bar for Varanae to force home the rebound from a couple of yards.

87 - WHAT A GOAL! Borussia Dortmud 2-2 Real Madrid (Schurrle, obviously). This is so, so good! Pulisic nashes down the right and crosses towards Aubameyang in the middle. He throws up legs for an overhead kick and they're probably a bit high, looking all the more so when Carvajal mindlessly jumps in front of them.