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.
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Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring the winner for Barcelona in the closing stages against Bayer Leverkusen
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Suarez's Barcelona team-mates pile upon him after he grabbed the late winner in their Champions League clash
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Barcelona substitute Sergi Roberto had poked the ball home to level the score at the Nou Camp in the 80th minute
MATCH FACTS
Barcelona:
Ter Stegen, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu, Busquets, Iniesta (Alba
60'), Rakitic (Roberto 72'), Sandro (El Haddadi 63'), Neymar, Suarez
Subs not used: Masip, Douglas, Bartra, Gumbau
Booked: Mascherano, Neymar, Alba
Goals: Roberto 80' Suarez 82'
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno,
Donati (Hilbert 76'), Tah, Papadopoulos, Wendell, Kramer, Bender,
Bellarabi (Brandt 65'), Kampl, Calhanoglu, Hernandez (Kiessling 55')
Subs not used: Kresic, Ramalho, Mehmedi, Bonisch
Booked: Bender, Calhanoglu, Papadopoulos, Kampl
Goals: Papadopoulos 22'
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.
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Brazilian forward Neymar being challenged by Bayer Leverkusen's Giulio Donati (right) during their Champions League clash
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Bayer Leverkusen's Wendell dives in for a challenge on Barcelona's Sandro Ramirez during the first half at the Nou Camp
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Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique gives instructions from the sidelines during the Group E encounter
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Bayer Leverkusen defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos rose highest in the box to head his side in front
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The Greek defender celebrates putting the Bundesliga side in front midway through the first half at the Nou Camp
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Barcelona striker Suarez (left) being challenged by Bayer Leverkusen defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos
Things
could have got even worse at the other end but Ter Stegen saved from
Karim Bellarabi. Neymar went down again but this time it was a foul and
Atkinson booked Lars Bender for the foul. Rakitic’s free-kick was well
saved by Leno and Leverkusen made it comfortably to half time one-up.
Rakitic had tested Leno with a header and Sandro had missed an earlier
chance but there was no spark in attack for Barcelona and the visitors
carried the greater threat.
It
stayed that way at the start of the second half and Hernandez should
have put his team out of sight four minutes in. Bellarabi crossed from
the right and the Mexican striker was all alone with the goal gaping but
sent the ball high over Ter Stegen’s goal. He was substituted moments
later.
Barça
were next to make a change and it was the one their supporters dreaded.
With Messi out for two months they desperately need Iniesta to stay fit
but holding the back of his right leg he signaled to the bench and was
replaced by Jordi Alba.
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Argentine defender Mascherano (left) receiving instruction from his boss Luis Enrique on the sidelines
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Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta (right) attempts to take the ball away from Bayer Leverkusen's Kevin Kampl (centre)
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Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno (right) has a coming together with his team-mate Wendell
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Barcelona right back Dani Alves (left) rises to win a header against Bayer Leverkusen's Hakan Calhanoglu
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Barcelona forward Neymar grimaces as he goes down under a challenge during the action at the Nou Camp
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Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen dives at the feet of Bayer Leverkusen's Karim Bellarabi
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Barcelona captain Iniesta looks dejected after being substituted with an injury on the hour mark
When
Barcelona had chances they were falling to the wrong player. Sandro
again should have scored by pulled his shot wide of Leno’s goal.
Rakitic
and Suarez were still pushing for the equalizer and the pair combined
with Suarez’s shot parried for a corner. Pique got on the end of the
kick but Leno made the save. Neymar then screwed an effort wide and
Suarez then teed-up Neymar but his shot was blocked.
There
seemed no way through the massed ranks of white shirts but in two
minutes everything changed. Jordi Alba crossed to Munir El Haddadi and
when his shot was saved Sergi Roberto swept in the rebound. And with
Barça’s tails up Munir tricked his way down the right and pulled the
ball back to Suarez who fired into Leno’s top corner to send Barcelona
top of the group.
Suarez
raised ten fingers to dedicate the goal to Messi. 'It was a world class
goal from him' said beaten Bayer Leverkusen coach roger Schmidt. Luis
Enrique said: 'We turned it around because we kept on believing. Suarez
summed up the fighting spirit but all the players showed that.'
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Barcelona right back Alves dives in for a challenge on Bayer Leverkusen's Christoph Kramer just outside the box
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Roberto grabs the ball from the net as Suarez celebrates Barcelona pulling level with 10 minutes to go
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The Uruguayan striker himself then peels away in celebration just a few minutes later after scoring the winner for Barcelona
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