Champions relinquish defence
Reigning champions Atletico Madrid were dumped out of the Europa League after seeing results go against them in Group B.
Atletico needed to better the score Aris Thessaloniki got at home to Rosenborg in their match with group winners Bayer Leverkusen in order to pip the Greek side to second spot and a place in the last 32.
Atletico did not get the desired result at either ground though, as Quique Sanchez Flores' men could only record a 1-1 draw at a snow-covered BayArena - Patrick Helmes putting the hosts ahead in the second half before Fran Merida equalised almost immediately - while Aris recorded a 2-0 victory over already-eliminated Rosenborg.
Leverkusen had the first opportunity in testing conditions in Germany when the Atletico defence stood off Nicolai Jorgensen and allowed him to shoot from the edge of the area, but the effort flew over David De Gea's crossbar.
Atletico then started to take control and great play from Sergio Aguero almost set up Diego Forlan at the far post before Alvaro Dominguez saw a free header saved by the foot of Fabian Giefer.
Giefer then did superbly to keep out an effort from Forlan in the 31st minute before the Uruguayan fired a volley wide from the edge of the area.
It was Leverkusen who broke the deadlock, though, as Helmes netted in the 69th minute.
Stefan Kiessling headed the ball into Helmes' path and he edged out Luis Perea before slotting a low shot past De Gea.
With Aris 1-0 up against Rosenborg by that stage Atletico's hopes of getting through to the knockout stages were rapidly fading, but they gave themselves a lifeline in the 72nd minute when substitute Merida drew them level.
Aguero was tackled as he tried to worm his way between Sami Hyypia and Danny Da Costa inside the Leverkusen defence, but the loose ball ran to Merida and he side-footed his shot into the corner of the net.
Atletico pushed forward in the closing stages as they sought a winner and Mario Suarez really should have done better in the 77th minute when he blazed over after Giefer had parried out a cross.
The visitors also had a great chance to snatch the win in the 89th minute as they ball fell to Aguero at the far post.
However, the Argentina international's goalbound shot was superbly blocked by the sliding Domagoj Vida and, as news came through of a second Aris goal against Rosenborg, Atletico knew their title defence was over.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Atletico Madrid: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
