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Come Fan with UsSunday, June 28, 2026

Bayer Leverkusen Vs. Barcelona, 2012 UEFA Champions League: Hosts Still Ultra-Defensive

So as we've already noted, Bayer Leverkusen are playing incredibly defensively. They're running a flat back four just behind a midfield five and looking for all the world like they're being run by Alex McLeish and faced with a team full of unstoppable football demons (the second part might be true considering that they're hosting Barcelona). Being defensive is all well and good, but not only are the hosts sitting deep - they're letting their opponents run through them almost at will.

The only person actually doing any real defending appears to be Daniel Schwaab, who's already on a booking. The centre half just about manages to prevent Lionel Messi scoring at the end of a pass from Alexis Sanchez and then pulls off an important interception in a similar position a few minutes later. Leverkusen have mounted one attack, which saw on-loan right back Vedran Corluka pass the ball straight over Victor Valdes's byline. I think that sums up their day so far pretty well. Still 0-0 at the BayArena.

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