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European Champions League

Bayer Leverkusen 1 - Barcelona 3

Leverkusen: Leno; Corluka (Da Costa 90'), Schwaab, Friedrich, Kadlec; Rolfes (Kiessling 76'), Reinartz; Bender, Castro, Schürrle (Bellarabi 89'); Renato Augusto 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Dani Alves, Puyol, Mascherano, Abidal; Fábregas, Busquets, Iniesta (Thiago 60'); Alexis (Isaac Cuenca 84'), Messi, Adriano (Pedro 68'). 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 41. Alexis. Ran on to Messi's lofted pass and poked shot under legs of keeper.
1-1. 51. Kadlec. Steered header back past Víctor Valdés from high Corluka cross.
1-2. 55. Alexis. Picked up Fàbregas through ball and ran on round keeper to score.
1-3. 88. Messi. Got on the end of Dani Alves cross to turn shot in at full stretch.

Barcelona bounced back from their weekend defeat at Osasuna with a revitalizing 1-3 victory at Bayer Leverkusen. The German side put out an ultra-defensive line up, and for the first forty minutes or so there were virtually no chances at either end. With four minutes to go to the break however Messi lifted the ball over the top of the defence to allow Alexis to run through and poke a shot under Leno to open the scoring. Six minutes after the restart Bayer equalized with virtually their first effort on target, Kadlec steering a header past Valdés from Corluka's cross, but four minutes later Barça were back in front, Alexis picking up a pass from Fàbregas and shrugging off Friedrich before rounding Leno to score. Valdés had to make two important saves after that from Renato Augusto and from Gonzalo Castro, whose shot he pushed on to the post, and substitute Kiessling headed a good chance straight at the visiting keeper. But Messi hit the post after a quick-footed run, and with two minutes to go the Argentinian superstar got on the end of a Dani Alves cross to slide the ball in to the net. Three away goals and a two goal cushion to take in to the return leg, but just as importantly a convincing win to restore their wounded pride.