UCL: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Barcelona

Sanchez scores his second of the match. (AP IMAGES)

Watching this Champions League match highlighted to me both the good and bad aspects of watching Barca play their particular brand of football. Of course, you generally can't blame the bad on Barca. Their play, their passing is still gorgeous to behold, but when their opponents play like Leverkusen did for a good portion of this match, is gets really frustrating. It was like the Germans weren't even trying to go forward. When they did get the ball, they'd give it up to Barca and then just sit back in defense again.

Unfortunately for everyone except Leverkusen fans, Barcelona wasn't able to do much in the first half despite their monopoly on possession. Good chances were few and far between, though I got the sense it was just from Barca not being quite on their game as opposed to being the result of anything Leverkusen was doing. Barca had a couple of chances from free kicks, including one from Dani Alves that went hopelessly high in the 12th minute. Adriano also took a crack at goal in the 25th, but sent his shot into the cheap seats.

Alexis Sanchez finally helped Barca get their noses in front shortly before halftime. In the 41st minute he took yet another well sculpted ball from Lionel Messi and slipped it by the Leverkusen 'keeper to make it 0-1. Leverkusen's dream of going into the half level fell just short.

So the Germans finally decided to get a little feisty in the second half, finally bringing a little of the spectacle into the match. They started to actually push Barca a bit and started getting looks around their 18. In the 52nd minute Vedran Corluka floated a ball across the penalty area to Michal Kadlec, who headed home the goal to equalize the game at 1-1.

Then Barcelona woke up and said "Oh yeah, we're Barcelona." Just three minutes after the Germans equalized Sanchez dashed down the field, danced around the Leverkusen 'keeper, and poked the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-2.

Still, Leverkusen thought they might not be that bad off, despite giving up the two away goals. They continued to attack and tried to go toe to toe with the defending champs. In the 57th minute Renato Augusto forced a save out of Victor Valdes, and Gonzalo Castro nearly equalized again in the 64th, but saw his shot draw the post instead of the net.

Barca weren't phazed and were able to ice the match and probably the tie late on. In the 88th minute Messi sent a pass out to Alves on the wing. Alves sent it back center into the area, and Messi made an almost super human run to get back to the pass and turn it into the goal to make it 1-3 Barcelona at full time.

Not exactly vintage Barca. They gave up some quality chances to the Germans in the second half. I wonder if it might have been different had Leverkusen played a more positive brand in the first half, but they didn't, and Barca heads home in a couple of weeks with the tie firmly in hand.