Luis Enrique pleased with Barca display

In spite of this draw, Barcelona topped Group E, with AS Roma taking the second place in spite of finishing on the same number of points as Leverkusen (six).

Barcelona will most likely be without Neymar, who leads the league with 14 goals, for a second straight game after the Brazil striker hurt the left side of his groin during practice.

Leverkusen’s desperation is showing in the aggressive tactics during the first 45 minutes. And it got its reward, with Javier Hernandez, the Bundesliga Player of the Month for November, equalising before the half-time whistle.

The Blaugrana missed Neymar’s incisiveness against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, as a second-string side failed to win their final group game.

But Hernandez, who previously played for Real Madrid, responded in the 23rd minute.

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique started just four of the side which beat Juventus 3-1 in last season’s final in Berlin – goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Ivan Rakitic, Jordi Alba and captain Messi. However, scans have confirmed that the Brazilian is a doubt for the Barcelona’s first game on 17 December, the semifinals of the tournament.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is back in training despite fears he may miss Saturday’s La Liga clash with Deportivo La Coruna.

Chances are they’ll succeed in this goal-scoring pursuit. “The fact that BATE Borisov drew in Rome makes it a tragedy for us”, Leverkusen coach Schmidt said.

Chances dried up though, Calhanoglu firing at ter Stegen from range before Rakitić bent an effort wide of the mark at the other end moments later, again from a fair way out.

A typical Barcelona goal, the ball was played patiently and methodically through the center halves and then into the midfield.