Tuesday February 14, 2012 Last 16 Finished BayArena

Bayer Leverkusen 1 - 3 FC Barcelona

  • Kadlec 52’
  • Sánchez 41’, 55’
  • Messi 88’

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  1. Sanchez double puts Barcelona in control

    Sanchez double puts Barcelona in control

    Alexis Sanchez scored twice as Barcelona enjoyed a 3-1 victory at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Bayer Leverkusen
    • FC Barcelona
    • - Let me know what you thought of that game by heading over to Twitter now. Follow Tom Adams on Twitter
    • 90+4' FULL TIME. Sanchez with two and Messi with the third as Barcelona take a huge step towards the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The win was fully deserved and Leverkusen now have a huge task ahead of them at Camp Nou.
    • 90+3' It's all over bar the shouting now, both tonight and in terms of the tie as a whole.
    • 90+1' Danny Da Costa replaces Corluka late on.
    • 90' Schuerrle comes off to be replaced by Karim Bellarabi.
    • 89' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 Barcelona! Messi gets the goal his performance deserves! Messi plays Alves through on goal and the Brazilian has a great chance to score, only to instead fire in a cross to his team-mate, who has charged 20 yards to slide in and convert.
    • 88' Schuerrle tests Valdes from range but the Barca keeper is equal to it.
    • 87' Thiago goes into the book for a late aerial challenge on Friedrich.
    • 86' Sanchez, scorer of two goals, comes off to be replaced by Isaac Cuenca.
    • 84' Sanchez with a great chance! He meets a corner from the left with a glancing header but Leno does superbly well to get a hand to it and save.
    • 83' Mascherano and Kiessling go in shoulder to shoulder but the German is punished with a foul. Never a free kick.
    • 81' Messi gets possession of the ball 35 yards from goal, looks for the pass but realises it isn't on and instead drives into the box himself before firing in a low effort that Leno saves well.
    • 80' Sneaky from Busquets as he bundles Castro over by the touchline before landing heavily on the running track. Unbelievably, though, Castro is booked! A crazy decision.
    • 79' Kiessling is straight into the action. Castro produces a fantastic dipping cross into the box and the striker gets his head to the ball, only to see Valdes dive and catch his effort.
    • 78' Stat from Opta: "Starting with his goal in the 2009 final, Lionel Messi has scored 27 goals in his last 28 Champions League starts, including six in five this season."
    • 77' A change for Leverkusen as Simon Rolfes is replaced by Stefan Kiessling. A midfielder for a striker: that's a positive sign from the home side.
    • 76' Now Messi turns provider again when dinking a pass over the top for Alves, but Kadlec comes across to clear behind for a corner.
    • 75' Messi takes possession and slides the ball out to Pedro but the substitute's first touch is horrid and allows a defender to come across and clear.
    • 73' What a moment from Messi! He darts between two markers when coming in from the right and lifts his shot over Leno, only to see it come off the outside of the upright. So unlucky.
    • 72' Leno does superbly to hare off his line and throw himself at the feet of Thiago, who is therefore unable to control a fine through-ball and convert.
    • 71' Barcelona have enjoyed 74 per cent possession so far tonight.
    • 70' Just before the set piece Barca make a change with Pedro replacing the injured Adriano.
    • 69' Messi and Alves love to combine for a one-two and they do just that outside the box before the former sees his effort deflected up and over the bar for a corner.
    • 68' Suddenly Leverkusen are full of belief and Alves has to intervene when Kadlec tries to burst into the box.
    • 67' Messi lurks with intent on the edge of the box before finding Fabregas, who can't get a shot away as the ball sticks under his feet.
    • 65' Leverkusen hit the post! What an effort from Castro as his hammer of a shot is turned onto the base of the post by Valdes. The home side are benefitting from a more positive attitude now.
    • 63' Thiago is an excellent talent and another man adept in his use of the ball. He is a good replacement for Iniesta and won't result in a change of strategy. In fact, I don't think Barcelona have another strategy.
    • 61' A change for Barca as Iniesta is replaced by young midfielder Thiago. Iniesta hasn't been at his electric best so far tonight.
    • 59' A flurry of action at both ends and this game has livened up no end. Hopefully Leverkusen will have some belief that they can get at Barca.
    • 57' Chance for Leverkusen! What a game we have on our hands now. Augusto drives into the box, bundles his way past Abidal and fires in a low effort that Valdes dives to his right to stop.
    • 56' Leverkusen were level for only three minutes and let Sanchez in far too easily. Coach Robin Dutt must be furious.
    • 55' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Barcelona! Sanchez with his second of the night! Fabregas plays in the Chile star with a perfectly weighted pass and Sanchez takes a touch to go wide of Leno before slotting the ball home just inside the near post.
    • 55' Alves takes the free kick but can't bend his shot on target as it flies high and wide. Dreadful attempt really with Messi also in attendance.
    • 54' Corluka is booked for chopping down Adriano, but there wasn't a lot of contact. Free kick for Barca to the left of the box.
    • 53' Barca only have one clean sheet in 11 away games now as their struggles away from Camp Nou continue.
    • 52' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Barcelona! And wouldn't you just know it, Leverkusen score with their first proper chance. Barca fail to deal with the ball in the box and Corluka does superbly to get around Abidal and hook a cross into the box. Michal Kadlec arrives at the back post and easily jumps above Sanchez to head home.
    • 51' Puyol lifts a pass over the top of the defence for Sanchez. The ball has plenty of backspin on it but the slippery surface in Germany ensures the ball slides out for a goal kick.
    • 50' Alfonsus Ligiori has this to say on Twitter: "absolutely game over for Leverkusen, Barca got their precious away goal, i don't even think 2nd leg need to be played." Have your say on Twitter
    • 49' Barca respond as Fabregas takes a corner from the right but Friedrich rises well to get his head to the ball and clear.
    • 48' A genuine chance for Leverkusen! Castro whips a free kick in from the left, Carles Puyol connects with a glancing header and Manuel Friedrich is unable to turn the ball back when sliding in at the back post.
    • 46' KICK OFF!
    • - What did you make of that first half? Let me know on Twitter
    • 45+2' It's not long before they are back on the front foot though as Messi jinks his way past a couple of challenges before being blocked. And that is half-time.
    • 45+1' Barca construct another pleasing move but Sanchez can't find Messi in the box and the Catalans are forced to retreat.
    • 45' We will have one minute of added time.
    • 44' Leverkusen deserve to be behind in all honesty as they have been completely dominated and have wasted the ball on the rare occasions it has been in their possession.
    • 42' Stat from Opta: "These sides have met on six occasions in European competition, Barcelona winning the last three encounters."
    • 41' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Barcelona! Sanchez scores his first Champions League goal. Messi turns the ball into the right channel with a quite delightful ball into the right channel with the outside of his boot. Both Fabregas and Sanchez run onto the ball and it is the Chilean who takes possession before putting it through Leno's legs.
    • 40' Messi delivers and Abidal tries to get in front of his man to turn the ball at goal, only to fail.
    • 39' Adriano comes in from the left and is brought to ground by a foul from Schuerrle. Messi will take this.
    • 38' Alves finds Messi with a searching ball over the top and the forward takes it down superbly on his chest before checking back and attempting to fire it in despite slipping on the turf. The ball bounces to Bernd Leno nicely though.
    • 37' Leverkusen will be pretty pleased with the scoreline so far but given they have spent most of the game chasing the ball they are likely to tire badly at some stage.
    • 36' Vedran Corluka swings a cross into the box but Victor Valdes has enough time to pluck it out of the air comfortably.
    • 35' A lovely cross from Fabregas as he takes his time to curl one in for Sanchez and although the Chile star gets his head to the ball he has strayed offside.
    • 34' A glimmer of a threat from Leverkusen. First Castro and Augusto combine to good effect, before Schuerrle then gets a shot all wrong. The fans respond by making more noise.
    • 32' Iniesta spots a clever run from Messi and lifts a pass over the top but unfortunately it catches Messi on the head, allowing Leverkusen to recover.
    • 31' Stat from Opta: "Bayer Leverkusen picked up seven points from losing positions this season in the Champions League group stage, more than any other team."
    • 30' Mascherano saunters forward from the back and squares to Messi, who is crowded out and dispossessed. Messi has been pretty quiet so far tonight.
    • 28' A nasty challenge from Castro on Busquets as he goes in high on the midfielder. It's often hard to tell when Busquets is genuinely hurt, such is his penchant for play-acting, but that wasn't pretty.
    • 27' Stat from Opta: "Starting with his goal in the 2009 final, Lionel Messi has scored 27 goals in his last 28 Champions League starts, including six in five this season."
    • 26' Iniesta darts forward suddenly, as he likes to do, but his pass for Adriano has too much on it and rolls out for a goal kick.
    • 25' Iniesta spreads the ball wide to Adriano, who cuts in from his advanced position on the left and produces a terrible effort with his right boot that flies well off target.
    • 23' Oh dear. Alves guilty of a very sloppy pass to Messi that eludes the little Argentinian and rolls out of play.
    • 22' Barca are the masters of possession but Leverkusen really aren't helping themselves here whatsoever. Another sloppy pass gifts the ball back to the away side.
    • 21' Stat from Opta: "Barcelona allowed their opponents just seven shots on target in the group stage, fewer than any other team."
    • 20' Mascherano is drawn into a foul in the centre of the pitch some 40 yards from goal but Andre Schuerrle wastes the rare chance for Leverkusen when his free kick floats out of play.
    • 19' Mascherano thinks for a second he is Xavi when trying to hoof the ball 50 yards for Alves but the ball runs out of play near the corner flag.
    • 18' Renato Augusto is caught in the face by the boot of Abidal after sliding in on the Frenchman and requires a bit of treatment on the sidelines. He will be fine though.
    • 17' Fabregas looks for one of those long balls over the top for Sanchez but Leverkusen are alert and tidy up with little incident.
    • 16' Sergio Busquets picks out Cesc Fabregas with a glorious reverse pass from the centre of the pitch but the latter's cross is cut out while Messi waits to pounce.
    • 15' Stat from Opta: "Barcelona could become the first away team to win more than once at the BayArena in the Champions League."
    • 13' Messi helps bundle the ball through the Leverkusen backline and moves into position to tap home a cross from Sanchez from the left, but Schwaab slides in to take the ball away. Superb defending.
    • 12' Alves it is but the Brazil international smashes the ball high over the bar. That was a poor attempt, but in truth the free kick probably was a bit far out for the more delicate technique of Messi.
    • 11' Gonzalo Castro is penalised for a trip on Messi and it was a bit of a messy challenge. Barca have a free kick 35 yards from goal and Messi and Alves are over it.
    • 10' The TV cameras pick out Xavi and Gerard Pique in the stands. Both players trained last night but didn't make the bench.
    • 9' Lionel Messi takes the subsequent free kick from the left and goes square to Alves before ghosting in behind the defence to attempt to receive a ball over the top from the right back. It's a lovely idea but doesn't quite come off.
    • 8' Daniel Schwaab is the first place in the book, and rightly so as he goes in high and late on Eric Abidal. Silly to get booked so early in the game against a side as tricky as Barcelona.
    • 7' That stat will be extended tonight if the opening exchanges are anything to go by. Leverkusen have lost the ball far too frequently already.
    • 6' Stat from Opta: "Barcelona have dominated possession in all of their 44 Champions League matches under Pep Guardiola’s management."
    • 4' Barca's away form really has been dreadful in La Liga this season so this is by no means a foregone conclusion tonight, even if they are now focused on cup competitions having fallen so far behind Real Madrid.
    • 3' Now Javier Mascherano tries a searching ball over the top for Alexis Sanchez, who can't get on the end of it after breaking in behind the Bayer defence.
    • 2' Barca dominating possession as always in the early stages. Dani Alves attempts to find Messi with a looping pass from the right but sees his ball cut out.
    • 1' KICK OFF!
    • 19:45 Get in contact with me on Twitter if you like during the game. I'll try and use some of your comments here. Follow @tomEurosport
    • 19:40 Right, it's time for you all to post your pre-match predictions ahead of kick-off... What is your forecast for the scoreline this evening? Who will get on the scoresheet?
    • 19:35 We're just 10 minutes from kick-off, and it's time for a pre-match stat: Liverpool are the last side to dump Barcelona out at the last 16 stage of the Champions League, back in the 2006/07 season.
    • 19:30 Guardiola has said it is imperative his team score in the first leg. With Barca having struck 12 times and conceded only twice in their three group-stage away fixtures this season, they surely have a good chance of doing so.
    • 19:25 Xavi Hernandez is a surprise absentee from the Barcelona lineup. Gerard Pique has also been left out. What do you all make of the two line ups? Get in touch...
    • 19:20 Javier Mascherano will slot in alongside Carles Puyol at centre-back with Sergio Busquets returning to midfield in an otherwise familiar-looking lineup for the champions.
    • 19:15 STAT: Barcelona scored 20 goals in this season’s Champions League Group Stage, equaling the all-time record set by Manchester United in 1998/99.
    • 19:10 Robin Dutt: "Preparing for a match like this is a lot of fun: in the video breakdown of Barcelona you get to see many very, very good football matches. I am looking forward to giving my team some pointers but if we want to make an impact a lot of things will need to come together. There are different ways to beat Barcelona. You can go totally defensive like Inter successfully tried (in the 2009/10 semi-finals), with 10 men behind the ball. Or there is the attacking approach."
    • 19:05 Pep Guardiola: "Setbacks are a part of football. We have to return to the ways that have distinguished us. The past years have shown how difficult it is to defend the Champions League. Milan defended their title, but back then it was not the Champions League. You almost get the feeling that it would constitute failure if we did not win the Champions League now; that we have no choice but to win the Champions League, as if this was the easiest thing to do in the world."
    • 19:00 THE TEAMS ARE IN! Leverkusen: Leno, Schwaab, Reinartz, Friedrich, Corluka, Kadlec, Castro, Rolfes, Bender, Augusto, Schurrle. SUBS: Yelldell, Oczipka, Da Costa, Toprak, Ortega, Bellarabi, Kiessling. Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Abidal, Fabregas, Iniesta, Mascherano, Busquets, Adriano, Sanchez, Messi. SUBS: Pinto, Bartra, Thiago, Dos Santos, Roberto, Pedro, Cuenca..
    • 18:55 TEAM NEWS: Veteran midfielder Michael Ballack will miss the first leg and possibly the second with a calf injury. Renato Augusto may be the man to come in and replace him. Midfielder Sidney Sam and striker Eren Derdiyok are both absent through injury.
    • 18:50 Barelona's holding midfielder Sergio Busquets has travelled with the squad despite suffering with a bruised knee. Forward Pedro is also available after returning from a four-game lay-off at the weekend. David Villa and Ibrahim Afellay remain long-term absentees.
    • 18:45 Welcome to LIVE text coverage of the Champions League last 16 first leg between Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona at the BayArena.

  • Summary

    • 89' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 Barcelona! Messi gets the goal his performance deserves! Messi plays Alves through on goal and the Brazilian has a great chance to score, only to instead fire in a cross to his team-mate, who has charged 20 yards to slide in and convert.
    • 84' Sanchez with a great chance! He meets a corner from the left with a glancing header but Leno does superbly well to get a hand to it and save.
    • 79' Kiessling is straight into the action. Castro produces a fantastic dipping cross into the box and the striker gets his head to the ball, only to see Valdes dive and catch his effort.
    • 73' What a moment from Messi! He darts between two markers when coming in from the right and lifts his shot over Leno, only to see it come off the outside of the upright. So unlucky.
    • 65' Leverkusen hit the post! What an effort from Castro as his hammer of a shot is turned onto the base of the post by Valdes. The home side are benefitting from a more positive attitude now.
    • 57' Chance for Leverkusen! What a game we have on our hands now. Augusto drives into the box, bundles his way past Abidal and fires in a low effort that Valdes dives to his right to stop.
    • 55' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Barcelona! Sanchez with his second of the night! Fabregas plays in the Chile star with a perfectly weighted pass and Sanchez takes a touch to go wide of Leno before slotting the ball home just inside the near post.
    • 52' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Barcelona! And wouldn't you just know it, Leverkusen score with their first proper chance. Barca fail to deal with the ball in the box and Corluka does superbly to get around Abidal and hook a cross into the box. Michal Kadlec arrives at the back post and easily jumps above Sanchez to head home.
    • 41' GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 0-1 Barcelona! Sanchez scores his first Champions League goal. Messi turns the ball into the right channel with a quite delightful ball into the right channel with the outside of his boot. Both Fabregas and Sanchez run onto the ball and it is the Chilean who takes possession before putting it through Leno's legs.
    • 38' Alves finds Messi with a searching ball over the top and the forward takes it down superbly on his chest before checking back and attempting to fire it in despite slipping on the turf. The ball bounces to Bernd Leno nicely though.
    • 25' Iniesta spreads the ball wide to Adriano, who cuts in from his advanced position on the left and produces a terrible effort with his right boot that flies well off target.
    • 12' Alves it is but the Brazil international smashes the ball high over the bar. That was a poor attempt, but in truth the free kick probably was a bit far out for the more delicate technique of Messi.
    • 9' Lionel Messi takes the subsequent free kick from the left and goes square to Alves before ghosting in behind the defence to attempt to receive a ball over the top from the right back. It's a lovely idea but doesn't quite come off.
    • 19:00 THE TEAMS ARE IN! Leverkusen: Leno, Schwaab, Reinartz, Friedrich, Corluka, Kadlec, Castro, Rolfes, Bender, Augusto, Schurrle. SUBS: Yelldell, Oczipka, Da Costa, Toprak, Ortega, Bellarabi, Kiessling. Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Puyol, Abidal, Fabregas, Iniesta, Mascherano, Busquets, Adriano, Sanchez, Messi. SUBS: Pinto, Bartra, Thiago, Dos Santos, Roberto, Pedro, Cuenca..

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Bayer Leverkusen

    Manager: Robin Dutt

  • FC Barcelona

    Manager: Josep Guardiola

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.8 7
      Defenders
      Yellow Card Substitution Out90′ 5.8 7
      Yellow Card 5.3 6
      5.4 6
      Goal 6.2 8
      Midfielders
      5.7 5
      Substitution Out77′ 5.6 6
      5.7 6
      Yellow Card 5.8 7
      Substitution Out90′ 5.9 5
      Strikers
      5.9 6
      Subs
      Substitution In77′ 5.5 7
      Substitution In90′ 4.1 6
      Substitution In90′ 3.5 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.8 7
      Defenders
      5.8 7
      5.7 6
      6.2 7
      5.9 6
      Midfielders
      5.5 7
      6.2 7
      Substitution Out61′ 6.5 6
      Strikers
      Goals ×2 Substitution Out86′ 7.3 8
      Substitution Out69′ 5.5 6
      Goal 6.8 9
      Subs
      Substitution In61′ Yellow Card 6.2 6
      Substitution In69′ 6.3 6
      Substitution In86′ 5.6 6

Comment 86 - 105 of 105

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  1. barce are the best team in the world love u barce and­ messi xxx

    From Shoaib, on Tue 6 Mar 3:59

  2. Messi ran the show again, Barca wont win it they defend­ like that against a dangerous team who can crowd them­ out then hit fast on the break, watch out for bayern.

    From Barry, on Wed 15 Feb 23:27

  3. Barca better concentrate on La Liga. I'm­ Barca's NO:1 FAN.

    From Lionel, on Wed 15 Feb 22:04

  4. The future of football & Barca Alexis Sanchez.

    From Lionel, on Wed 15 Feb 22:03

  5. Well done BARCAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! And once again Barca won­ incredibly.

    From Lionel, on Wed 15 Feb 22:01

  6. Messi is the best. No matter what you crazy Madrid fans­ say. MESSIIIIII the BEST IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Lionel, on Wed 15 Feb 22:00

  7. Barcelona World Champion's Football Club. UP BARCA

    From Akin Savage, on Wed 15 Feb 17:08

  8. what a game !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From aggy2sam, on Wed 15 Feb 16:12

  9. Is important to know how many titles you loss but is­ more important to see how many titles you will make at­ the end of the season God Bless Barca Visca Barca!!

    From Juan sabaldo, on Wed 15 Feb 6:44

  10. wow who can stop messi.god bless you­ messiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

    From Milan Uk, on Wed 15 Feb 6:22

  11. ROBERT I AGREE WITH­ U............................................GOD BLESS­ BARCA

    From skie, on Wed 15 Feb 6:22

  12. We have so many player injury however we still keep­ playing great Visca Barca!!

    From Juan sabaldo, on Wed 15 Feb 6:20

  13. WELL DONE 2 GOALS FROM SANCHEZ!!!!BRAVO

    From skie, on Wed 15 Feb 6:19

  14. yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss­ messiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii­ iiiii.

    From Milan Uk, on Wed 15 Feb 6:18

  15. Thanks for the correction Robert. You have made my day.­ Six, it is.

    From Ntaizyo Mwila, on Wed 15 Feb 6:13

  16. Ntaizo Mwila, I am sure u meant 6 titles not a treble.­ Barca has already won 3 titles: Spanish Super Cup,­ European Super Cup and World Club Championship.
    ­
    However Barca will not win a treble this season. They­ will lose the la liga this season. People forget that­ Barca has played the most matches this season and have­ had cause to travel a long distance to Japan and back.­ They play every 3 days. Therefore they are definitely­ weary moreso with all the injuries they have had to­ cope with. All the noise about Real Madrid, Mourinho­ and Ronaldo are just noise. Real Madrid is more­ consistent than Barca in the La Liga but if they play­ another match,Barca will likely win because they will­ not be resting players and will take on Real Madrid­ with all the seriousness tha match deserves.

    From Robert, on Wed 15 Feb 6:04

  17. terrible first half, brilliant second...good to see­ Iniesta back even if he was a little lacklustre

    From Namaste, on Wed 15 Feb 5:53

  18. seanfilgate: low life? Aww, you're just the worst­ kind of person. You hurt me, in the gut.

    From aurib, on Wed 15 Feb 5:50

  19. Woooooohooooooo. Yeah. Believe it or not, I still think­ Barcelona will get a treble this season. Come on­ people. Go Barcelona! Go! Congratulations.

    From Ntaizyo Mwila, on Wed 15 Feb 5:40

  20. Visca Barca, That is a good result for Barca. Once­ again Barca has shut up these loser madrid fans and­ Barca haters. These losers hope and pray that other­ teams beat Barca because they know their own team­ can't beat Barca.

    From Barcelona Dream Team Nr 2, on Wed 15 Feb 5:38
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