VAR SAVES REAL... THEN ASENSIO GRABS WINNER

A HISTORIC first use of VAR in the Champions League helped Real Madrid to a 2-1 win against Ajax in Amsterdam. The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the 37th minute when Nicolas Tagliafico headed home. But the video referee spotted that the offside Dusan Tadic had impeded Real keeper Thibaut Courtois. ‘I think it was the right decision. When it happened I thought maybe offside,’ Courtois told BT Sport. Karim Benzema put Real ahead before AHakim Ziyech equalised. Marco Asensio’s winner came three minutes from time.