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Leverkusen logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 9, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

1-1

Hernandez (23')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Messi (20')

Half-Time Report: Javier Hernandez cancels out Lionel Messi opener

A Javier Hernandez equaliser cancels out Lionel Messi's opener to ensure that the scores are level between Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona at the break.

A Javier Hernandez equaliser has cancelled out Lionel Messi's opener to ensure that the scores are level between Bayer Leverkusen and Barcelona at the break this evening.

Leverkusen's defender Roberto Hilbert vies with Barcelona's Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic during the Group E, second-leg UEFA Champions League football match Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs FC Barcelona in Leverkusen, western Germany on December 9, 2015.© Getty Images

With a place in the knockout stages at stake, the hosts made a bright start to proceedings. Hakan Calhanoglu flashed an early effort wide, before the Turkish midfielder forced a low save from Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen from distance.

Barcelona improved from the quarter-hour mark, when young forward Sandro forced a comfortable save from Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno after some good work from Lionel Messi.

The visitors broke the deadlock on 20 minutes, as Ivan Rakitic played a precise through-ball into the path of Messi, who placed a finish beyond the reach of Leno.

Barca's lead lasted just three minutes, as the hosts netted a deserved equaliser through Hernandez, who connected with a left-wing Calhanoglu cross to fire past Ter Stegen.

Luis Enrique's side came agonisingly close to regaining the lead before the half-hour mark, when Jordi Alba picked out Messi in a good position, only for the striker to fire narrowly wide.

The hosts almost took the lead before the break, as Calhanoglu tried his luck from outside the Barca box, only for Ter Stegen to produce a comfortable stop.

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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England21104
2 Denmark Denmark20202
3 Slovenia Slovenia20202
4 Serbia Serbia20111

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands21104
Q France France21104
3 Austria Austria21013
4 Poland Poland20020

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Romania Romania21013
2 Belgium Belgium21013
3 Slovakia Slovakia21013
4 Ukraine Ukraine21013

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal22006
2 Turkey Turkey21013
3 Czech Republic Czech Republic20111
4 Georgia Georgia20111


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