Barcelona 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen: Luis Suarez nets winner as Luis Enrique's side come from behind to secure Champions League win

If anyone can carry Barcelona through the next two months without Leo Messi then it will be Luis Suarez. 

 

The Uruguayan striker scored his third goal in four days to seal what looked like an improbable victory against Bayer Leverkusen.

 

Luis Enrique’s side looked down and out after another Marc-Andre ter Stegen error had cost them in the first half. With the injured Messi watching from the stands and Andres Iniesta hobbling off in the second period to add to Barcelona’s injury woes there was a deep depression over the Camp Nou with just ten minutes left, but Suarez scored the winner after Sergi Roberto had equalised to turn the game on its head and send the Germans home empty-handed.

 

It wasn’t quite the 7-1 Barça managed against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 when Messi scored five but when Suarez found the top corner from just inside the area the Camp Nou erupted as if it had meant qualification from the group. 

 

If a former Liverpool striker had the last word it was a one-time Manchester United striker who so nearly had the first.

 

Javier Hernandez’s first touch was booed but with his second touch the former Real Madrid loanee should have scored. Kevin Kampl crossed from the right and he shot first time but Ter Stegen saved at his near post.

 

It was strange not to see Messi lurking with intent on the right touchline in the first half. Sandro Ramirez was picked to replace him and he could have scored on his Champions League debut but Leno saved his shot when he was put through intelligently by Suarez.

 

Hernandez was lively getting to the byline but lacked support as he pulled the ball back. 

 

The man Leverkusen signed for 12m pounds from Manchester United in the summer was playing with confidence and it spread through the team wth Kampl twice going close.

 

On 22 minutes Bayer Leverkusen took the lead. Hakan Calhangoglu whipped a right-footed corner into the six-yard box. Kryiakos Papadopoulos jumped between Jeremy Matheiu and Ter Stegen and the ball flew into the back of the net. 

 

The Leverkusen players ran to the corner-taker but the goal was given to the team’s big Greek defender. It had been the slightest of touches. Most importantly Ter Stegen had not got a glove on the ball and the home team were 1-0 down.

 

They needed a reaction but it never came. Neymar’s response was to dive in the area and Martin Atkinson booked him for the tumble. 

 

He then made amends by firing against the post but when the ball came out to Sandro the 19-year-old striker blazed the rebound over.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

culled from daily mail