FC Barcelona v Bayer Leverkusen: First European win slips away (1-1)

The Catalans take the lead through Montes, but the Germans grab an equaliser right at the last gasp

MATCH STATS

FC Barcelona, 1
Bayer Leverkusen, 1

Juvenil A: Andreu, Morer (Chumi, min 79), Montes, Juanma, Cucurella, Busquets, Carbonell (Matyas Tajti, min 85), Aleñá, Carles Pérez, Álex Blanco (Theo Chendri, min 56) & Marc Rio.

Bayer Leverkusen: Kucz, Nesseler, Duschke, Abu Hanna, Carls (Päffgen, min 90), Frey, Pütz, Ciganiks, Henrichs, Queckenstedt (Boeder, min 83) & Dzalto (Gemein, min 71).

Goals: 1-0 Montes, min 71; 1-1 Gemein, min 90.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin, assisted by Dermot Broughton & Mark Gavin.

Observations: Game played in the Miniestadi before 603 spectators. Alaos attended by coaches from Barça B, including Gerard López.

The FC Barcelona U19 team missed out on their first win in the UEFA Youth League when Bayer Leverkusen stole a late equaliser in the Miniestadi. That means two draws in two games so far for Gabri’s side.

The home side dominated from the outset, with Bayer content to sit back and soak up the early pressure. Barça tried to catch them down the wings, with Carles Pérez soon becoming the most incisive player with a number of penetrating runs to set up a series of chances. Carbonell enjoyed several of those, Álex Blanco had one too, and there was another for Pérez himself. In the meantime, Bayer only got through on goal once, but Dzalto’s strike was no major problem for Andreu. And so the first half came to a close, with the Catalans unfortunate not to have taken the lead.

Last gasp agony

Bayer were an altogether different side after the break, and Andreu suddenly found himself with a whole lot more to do. He pulled off two tremendous saves in quick succession, before Barça regrouped and regained their composure of the first 45 minutes, with Carbonell coming closest as the play switched back to the Bayer half.

Substitute Theo had only been on the field for a matter of minutes when he was brought down in the area and the referee pointed at the spot. Although Barça captain Juanma struck the penalty well, the German keeper managed to tip the ball behind for a corner. But the frustration was short-lived. The corner was met by Montes, who slammed home the first goal for FCB in the competition. Moments later it looked like Barça had extended their lead, but Marc Rio’s goal was disallowed for offside.

The clock kicked down and Barça looked headed for their first win in this season’s UEFA Youth League. But in injury time, and following a bizarre move with the ball ping-ponging back and forth in the Barça area, Gemein found the net to make it 1-1. It was a cruel end to the game for the U19 team, who remain unbeaten, and now travel to BATE Borisov in search of their first win.

Source: http://ift.tt/1YMwvjq