Bayer Leverkusen held away to Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid fought back against Bayer Leverkusen to earn their first point in this season’s Europa League on Thursday, with the final score remaining at 1–1.
Josef Heynckes’ team went ahead after Eren Derdiyok scored six minutes before the break, but Simao Sabrosa’s penalty kick brought Atletico back on level terms in the relatively dull encounter.
Neither team created many chances in the first half, but after enjoying comfortable spells of possession, Leverkusen took a deserved lead with 39 minutes gone.
After a corner kick, Sami Hyypia rose high at the near post, flicking the ball towards the far corner, where Felipe Luis could only steer the ball onto the post. When it rebounded into play, Derdiyok was quick to hit a half-volley into the net for his fourth
goal of the season.
Tranquillo Barnetta, Leverkusen’s lively winger, had some bright moments in the first half, and he forced a fine save from David de Gea before the end of the first half.
Unnecessary foul by Hyypia
Hyypia was then at fault for Leverkusen when the Finnish defender brought down Fran Merida, the former Arsenal player, in the corner of the area with six minutes played in the second half.
The Spaniard was approaching the byline, but did not pose enough of a threat to warrant the challenge. Simao stepped up in front of the home fans to send the penalty in off the left post.
Atletico were encouraged by the equaliser, but despite controlling the tempo of the game and knocking the ball between them comfortably, the Spaniards failed to score.
Jose Antonio Reyes missed an easy header in the 67th minutes as striker Diego Forlan’s absence became increasingly noticeable for the home team.
Leverkusen’s Patrick Helmes, who scored a hat-trick against Rosenborg in the last round of the Europa League, replaced Derdiyok after 68 minutes, and his presence added to the German team’s attacking dynamic.
Shortly after coming on, the striker forced a good save from de Gea, and in the dying minutes, he missed a clear header.
Perhaps Heynckes’ men will be disappointed with the draw, having produced a total of 12 shots compared to Atletico’s six, but the Germans managed to secure a point against the Europa League defenders on their home pitch, and are now top of Group B with four
points.
With only one point, Atletico are fourth, while Rosenborg BK and Thessaloniki FC have three points each.
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