Werder Bremen 1 - Barcelona 1

Bremen: Wiese; Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Schulz; Baumann, Frings, Borowski, Diego, Hunt (Owomoyela 90'); Klose (Klasnic 90'). 4-5-1. Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Oleguer, Thuram, Puyol, Sylvinho (Zambrotta 83'); Deco, Motta, Iniesta; Giuly (Messi 65'), Eto'o (Gudjohnsen 65'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 56.Puyol (own goal). Turned cross from Hunt past Valdés trying to clear.
1-1. 88. Messi. Picked up return pass from Deco and shot low wide of Wiese.

A last minute goal from substitute Leo Messi saved an important point for Barcelona at Werder Bremen. Frank Rijkaard's side had been surprised by the Bundesliga team right from the kick off, and they were lucky not to be well behind by half time. Valdés saved well from Hunt and Klose, and Frings fired a shot just wide of the post in the opening minutes, with Barça not replying until later in the first half, when Ronaldinho was closed down and Eto'o failed to beat Wiese.

The home side started the second half as they had the first, with Klose heading a good chance wide. And ten minutes in to the half Hunt crossed in from the left, and Puyol turned the ball in to his own net trying to clear. A few minutes later the Spaniards suffered another blow, Eto'o being stretchered off with a serious knee injury which could keep him out for a few months, and they could have gone further behind when Borowski shot just wide of the target.

Rijkaard replaced Eto'o and Giuly with Gudjohnsen and Messi, and Messi brought a good save out of Wiese after a jinking run. And with the game seemingly lost, the young Argentine forward picked up a return pass from Deco and slotted the ball wide of the keeper for the equaliser. With Chelsea winning at Levski it was a vital point, and Barcelona ended the day in second place. It could have been a very different picture had it not been for Messi.