Atlético: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea,
Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Reyes, Paulo Assunçao (Mario
Suárez 76'), Raúl García (Tiago 46'), Simao; Diego Costa,
Diego Forlán (Fran Mérida 46'). 4-4-2.
Leverkusen:
Adler; Schwaab, Friedrich, Hyypia, Kadlec; Vidal (Bender 61'),
Reinartz, Balitsch (Rolfes 61'); Derdiyok (Helmes 66'), Sidney Sam, Barnetta.
4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 39. Derdiyok. Fired ball back in to net after
Filipe headed away corner.
1-1. 51. Simao (penalty). After Hyypia tripped
Fran Mérida inside area.
Defending champions Atlético Madrid are bottom of their group after being held to a 1-1 draw at home by Bayer Leverkusen. The German side took control from the start, Derdiyok and Sam both going close early on. And with five minutes to go to the break they took the lead, Hyypia heading a corner against the post, and Filipe's clearance also hitting the same upright before falling to Derdiyok for him to score.
De Gea also had to save from Barnetta before the break, and at half time Quique decided he had to change things. Agüero though had failed a pre-match fitness test, so he turned to Tiago and Fran Mérida to replace Raúl García and Forlán. Things immediately looked brighter, and five minutes after the restart Simao equalised from the penalty spot after Hyypia had fouled Mérida in the area.
After that Reyes could have scored a couple of times, and Diego Costa and Fran Mérida also tried their luck. The visitors also had a couple of late chances through substitute Helmes near the end, but in the end points were shared. Atlético find themselves adrift of the rest, but with a double header against Rosenberg and a home match against Aris coming up, there is still time for them to turn things around.