Holders Barcelona took a giant step towards the Champions League’s quarter-finals with a 3-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen in yesterday’s Round of 16 first-leg tie in Germany.
With the return leg at the Nou Camp on March 7, Barcelona dominated possession in this David versus Goliath clash against a Bayer Leverkusen side who have now won just one of their last eight games.
In France, Lyon secured a slender advantage in their last 16 clash with Apoel Nicosia by beating the Cypriot underdogs 1-0 in the first leg at the Stade Gerland.
For all their super-star status, Barcelona, who lag ten points behind leaders Real Madrid in the Spanish league, stumbled at times and Bayer Leverkusen squandered chances to earn a draw.
Nevertheless, Barcelona are in pole position to reach the last eight after two goals by Chile’s Alexis Sanchez and a late strike by Lionel Messi gave them a valuable away win while Leverkusen defender Michal Kadlec grabbed a consolation.
On a cold night at the BayArena, the Spaniards took most of the first-half to warm up with Messi showing only rare flashes of skill early on.
With Barcelona enjoying around 80 per cent of the possession, it was a matter of time before the hosts’ defence cracked.
A through ball from Messi saw Dani Alves and Sanchez sprint head-to-head after the ball and it was the Chilean who arrived first to fire past goalkeeper Bernd Leno on 41 minutes.
Barcelona’s half-time lead was harsh on the hard-working hosts, but with virtually their first full attack of the game, Leverkusen equalised.
Former Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka managed to chip in a cross and Czech Republic defender Kadlec headed home at the back post for a goal which had the 30,000-capacity crowd on their feet on 52 minutes.
Barcelona, however, needed just three minutes to pull ahead again when Sanchez added his second after a ball from Cesc Fabregas allowed the Chilean to round Leno and fire home.
Leverkusen came out fighting and Renato Augusto forced Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes into a save moments later, while midfielder Gonzalo Castro hit the post on 64 minutes with Valdes beaten.
Despite a posse of defenders shadowing his every move, Messi hit the post with 72 minutes gone, but at the other end striker Stefan Kiessling came on with 15 minutes left and headed at Valdes with his first touch of the game.
Messi saved the best for last when he finished a great cross from Alves for Barcelona’s third on 88 minutes.
Apoel resistance
Apoel are the first team from Cyprus to reach the knockout rounds and they defended stoutly in front of over 4,000 travelling supporters but were undone by an Alexandre Lacazette goal shortly before the hour.
Lacazette’s strike, allied to what was only a second clean sheet in their last 12 games, puts Lyon in a commanding position to reach the quarter-finals prior to the second leg in Nicosia next month.
The goal that mattered arrived on 58 minutes with Cris at its unlikely source.
The Lyon captain strolled into the Apoel area before touching the ball left for Lacazette, who cut inside and beat keeper Dionisios Chiotis with a rasping shot that took a deflection off Paulo Jorge.
There was one, late scare for Lyon, but substitute Gustavo Manduca’s rising drive met its match in a finger-tip save from the otherwise untroubled Hugo Lloris.
Last 16, 1st legs
Played yesterday
Bayer Lev. 1
Kadlec 52;
Barcelona 3
Sanchez 41, 55; Messi 88;
Second leg: March 7
Lyon 1
Lacazette 58;
Apoel 0
Second leg: March 7
Playing today
Zenit SP vs Benfica - 18.00
Milan vs Arsenal - 20.45
Tuesday, February 21
CSKA vs Real Madrid - 18.00
Napoli vs Chelsea - 20.45
Wednesday, February 22
Marseille vs Inter - 20.45
Basel vs Bayern Munich - 20.45