Bayer Leverkusen’s defeat by FC Barcelona – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Background: Leverkusen guest in Barcelona? There was something! Right: Three years have passed since that last time Bayer took the Camp Nou and is embarrassed to the bone. 1: 7 we lost that time, Lionel Messi scored five goals. Good for Leverkusen: Messi missing the Catalans this time through injury and the Bundesliga club is currently in good shape. The opinion of Franz Beckenbauer, who said at Sky, Barça was without the superstar no more world-class team, so you have not long to share

. Result: 1: 2 (1: 0) from Leverkusen’s view. Kyriakos Papadopoulos (22 minutes) had Bayer dreamed of the Sensation, Sergi Roberto (80) and Luis Suarez (82) turned the game within two minutes.

The first half: could go down to the textbook under the chapter “possession and effectiveness”. Barcelona (73 percent of the ball) came to four degrees, but was dangerous Bayer (27 percent, eight degrees). Javier Hernández (2), Karim Bellarabi (13th, 36th) and Kevin Kampl (19) awarded a good chance, then met Papadopoulos after a corner. Barça had a hard time in the building, had problems with the pressing of the guests. Nevertheless, not much was missing and Neymar (39) or Messi representative Sandro Ramírez (10th, 39th) would score a goal managed

The Messi-hole :. Barcelona missed Messi Goals and templates, clear. But there was also another problem that was created by the absence of the Argentine. No one occupied the space between the Leverkusen four chains. It’s one of Messi’s greatest strengths to create there outnumbered, where it is needed. Because where Messi had appeared, this time was in the first 45 minutes only emptiness

The second half. Barça presented twice to the system, including occupied Neymar now consistently those Ten room that had previously remained vacant. With success. More and more, Bayer was forced onto the defensive, probably because Leverkusen ran out of power. Sandro (52), Neymar (57) and Gerard Pique (71) Award chances to equalize. The anxious substitute Roberto in a phase in which Bayer hardly found relief. Suárez sealed Leverkusen’s defeat with a remarkable volley. Both results prepared Joker Munir El Haddadi

miss the game. The 50th minute. Bayers Kampl conquered the ball in counter pressing Jérémy Mathieu, sends immediately launched Bell Arabi on the right into the depths. A typical Leverkusen shock attack. The subsequent cross succeed. But striker Hernández not score the 2: 0, but thrashes the ball detached in the night sky of Barcelona. Who knows if the Catalans would have caught even a two-goal deficit.

 
 
 

Getty Images

Moment of 0: 1 from Barça view: Papadopoulos is against ter Stegen on the ball

Zoff of the game: Who was to blame for the 0: 1? Barça goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and his striker Luis Suárez fought by Papadopoulos’ header hit over who should have prevented the door from both. The Uruguayans, who did not even tried to clarify the cross on the first post? (Hardly.) Or the keeper, who allowed a degree from the six-yard box? But (rather early.) It was not so important. What makes the results was the fact of Hakan Calhanoglu outstanding came corner. The ball flew first in expectable path towards the goal, to the verge of suddenly falling down. So managed Calhanoglu to accurately place the corner of Suárez and ter Stegen.

knowledge of the game: as three years ago, when 1: 7, drives home the Bundesliga club empty-handed. But this Elf Bayer has little in common with the team once. With their special style Leverkusen are unique in Europe, they can do it, even to annoy the big ones. For more it is not sufficient at present, however.