Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Barcelona: Hosts out of Champions League

A 1-1 draw with Barcelona was not enough for Bayer Leverkusen to reach the last 16, having failed to better Roma's 0-0 draw with BATE Borisov in the Italian capital.

With the better head-to-head record, Roma knew that a win would see them through in Group E, no matter what happened in the BayArena, but they could only muster a 0-0 draw in the Stadio Olimipico.

However, Leverkusen failed to capitalise after dominating for the majority of the match against a much-changed Barca.

Lionel Messi scored his 80th Champions League goal after a fine Ivan Rakitic pass played him in after 20 minutes, but Javier Hernandez equalised almost instantly to restore parity.

Despite having a host of chances to snatch that all important winner, the Bundesliga side could not find the net again, and face the prospect of Europa League football, while Barca finish unbeaten the group stages for the first time in three seasons.

Neymar was left out completely as several youngsters were given the chance to impress for Barcelona, with their spot as Group E winners already secured.

Leverkusen typically came flying out of the blocks, and threw everything at Barca right from the word go, with their usual high-pressing game putting the visitors under the cosh.

Hakan Calhanoglu was pulling the strings just behind Hernandez, but he could not find the killer pass for the in-form Mexican - and Messi made them pay after just 20 minutes.

Rakitic picked the ball up in the middle of the park, looked up and delivered a perfectly-weighted pass into the path of Messi, who calmly rounded the onrushing Bernd Leno in the Bayer goal to break the deadlock.

However, Hernandez made in 12 in 11 games in all competitions to deservedly get his side level three minutes later.

Great work from Calhanoglu again turned defence into attack for the hosts. The Turkey international played in Admir Mehmedi down the left, who cut the ball back into the path of Calhanoglu, who in turn fed Hernandez. The in-form striker made no mistake, sweeping the ball home with his left foot.

Messi missed a glorious chance to restore Barca's lead, firing wide from close range, but otherwise it was all Bayer, orchestrated by Calhanoglu and Karim Bellarabi.

After the break, it was more of the same, but the introduction of Stefan Kiessling gave Leverkusen more potency.

The rangy hitman fired wide after bundling his way to the edge of the box, and provided Hernandez with the moment that could have snatched a late winner.

Kiessling turned quickly, got to the byline, and squared for Hernandez, who got his foot to the ball first, and looked to have steered his shot home, but Marc-Andre Ter Stegen produced a stunning save to preserve his side's unbeaten record.

Luis Enrique will be pleased with his inexperienced side, and seemed content to sit back and secure the draw, but Bayer will rue a missed opportunity.