Neither Bayer Leverkusen nor Atletico Madrid were able to make the breakthrough in the first half of their Champions League tie at the BayArena this evening.
The German side were first to threaten and Lars Bender fired in a low effort that went just wide, but the midfielder should have perhaps have fed teammate Karim Bellarabi.
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Leverkusen continued to press and Mario Mandzukic saved his side when he cleared Wendell's goal-bound effort off the line on 13 minutes.
Bosnian international defender Emir Spahic was unlucky not to open the scoring before the half-hour mark when he smashed an effort against the crossbar from outside the box.
Antoine Griezmann seemed certain to head Atletico into the lead shortly before half time, but goalkeeper Bernd Leno was alert to punch the ball clear, and the shot-stopper was alert once again to deny Tiago at the death of the half.
Paul Gorst
