Real Madrid struggles continue in disappointing home draw with Brugge

Real Madrid fought back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Club Brugge on Tuesday.

The Belgian side led at the Santiago Bernabeu after two peculiar first-half goals from Emmanuel Bonaventure, but Los Blancos responded in the second period with efforts from Sergio Ramos and Casemiro.

Real Madrid's comeback bid was helped when Ruud Vormer was given his second yellow after 84 minutes. Casemiro netted his equalizer around a minute later.

Zinedine Zidane's side has collected just one point from its opening two matches of the 2019-20 Champions League campaign. Real Madrid lost 3-0 at Paris Saint-Germain in their first Group A encounter.

It was a woeful first half on Tuesday from the 13-time European champions.

Real Madrid's backline was in disarray when Bonaventure scruffily put his team ahead, and the Nigerian notched his second after almost stumbling over his own feet during a breakaway. Luka Modric's sloppy squandering of possession in midfield gave Bonaventure the opportunity to complete his brace.

Zidane was ruthless at the interval. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and full-back Nacho were both withdrawn, with Alphonse Areola and Marcelo brought on to replace them.

Ramos' 55th-minute goal ignited hopes of a potentially rousing comeback win for Real Madrid, but the effort fell short. Brugge were on the ropes, but dug in their heels after Casemiro flicked a header into the far corner with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Real Madrid next face a daunting trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Oct. 22 - four days before the latest instalment of El Clasico at Barcelona's Camp Nou.