Leverkusen: Giefer; Castro (Da Costa 46'),
Schwaab, Hyypia, Vida; Kaplan, Balitsch, Bender (Vidal 88'), Renato Augusto
(Kiessling 46'); Jorgensen, Helmes. 4-4-2.
Atlético:
De Gea; Valera, Perea, Domínguez, Filipe Luis; Raúl
García, Mario Suárez (Tiago 84'), Paulo Assunçao; Diego
Forlán (Diego Costa 66'), Kun Agüero, Simao (Fran Mérida
71'). 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 69. Helmes. Ran through to beat De Gea after
long ball headed on.
1-1. 72. Fran Mérida. Shot wide of Giefer after
Agüero tackled in area.
The miracle didn't happen. Defending champions Atlético Madrid needed to win at Bayer Leverkusen and hope that Aris Salonica didn't beat Rosenborg in the other group B tie to progress to the knock-out stage, but in the end they fell short on both counts. Heavy snowfall during the game in Germany made conditions difficult, but Atlético put up a brave fight to draw 1-1 on the night. Substitute Fran Mérida got their goal just a minute after coming on in the second half, cancelling out a strike by Helmes a couple of minutes earlier. Aris won 2-0 though, and Quique's side finished third in the table.