But that man Cristiano Ronaldo popped up to blast home a free-kick before Alvaro Morata headed in James Rodriguez’ cross with the last move of the game.
Ronaldo, who started his career at the famous Sporting Academy, was making his 350th appearance in a Real Madrid shirt.
Jorge Jesus’ lively Sporting side had surprised the Champions League holders when Bruno Cesar gave them the lead three minutes after the interval.
Sporting were definitely the better side against a below par Madrid team.
On the third anniversary of Gareth Bale’s debut for Real Madrid he was their brightest player.
The Welshman broke down the right cutting past Marvin Zeegelaar but his shot was smothered by Patricio at his near post.
Bale then swapped wings and crossed dangerously from the left only for Ruben Semedo to clear.
For Sporting, Gelson Martins was giving Marcelo a torrid time down the Madrid left.
The 21-year-old looks like being the next star to come from the club’s Alcochete Academy and several times in the first-half he exposed the space behind the Brazilian full-back.
Sporting looked to be heading for all three points when Ronaldo, who always seems to score against Sporting (he did it twice for Manchester United), slotted home an 89th minute free-kick which was perfectly placed past Rui Patricio.
Substitute Alvaro Morata turned the scoreline on its head when he headed home in stoppage time to win a game that Real Madrid always looked like losing. Benfica, missing the influential trio of Jonas, Kostas Mitroglou and Raúl Jiménez, led for much of the evening against Turkish side Besiktas in their Group B game.
Franco Cervi gave the Eagles an early lead, the Argentinian reacting first when goalkeeper Tolga Zengin could only parry Eduardo Salvio’s powerful shot.
With time running out Talisca, who was loaned by the Lisbon club to Besiktas last month, fired in a superb last-minute free-kick to earn a draw.
FC Porto, who entertained FC Copenhagen, went ahead in the thirteenth minute when Otavio Edmilson dispossessed Copenhagen midfielder Thomas Delaney on the edge of his penalty area before playing a quick one-two with Andre Silva who found the back of the net.
Cornelius hit back early in the second half, heading home his own miss-hit shot to send the ball looping over Iker Casillas and into the net.
Copenhagen midfielder Jan Gregus was sent-off for a second yellow card with thirty minutes remaining but despite a flurry of chances the Dragons failed to take advantage and the game ended in a draw.