Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Barcelona: Manchester United outcast Javier Hernandez cancels out Lionel Messi opener but hosts miss out on Champions League knockout stage    

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Job done, for Barcelona. Not in terms of the result, nor the performance, neither of which Luis Enrique will care to think much about after this, but they completed the game without any further casualties after Neymar’s injury blow.

There was a scare though, when a video emerged after the game of goalscorer Lionel Messi holding his hamstring. However the early indications are that he is not hurt, merely just feeling a little discomfort as he works his way back to fitness after a two-month injury lay off.

After the Brazilian was injured during training in the BayArena the evening before the game, the mission for the coach and his men, already qualified in first place for the next round, was to negotiate a game against hungry opponents without suffering any more damage. 

Former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez celebrates equalising for Bayer Leverkusen against Barcelona 

Hernandez collects a low cross and rifles in a superb poacher's finish from close-range to make it 1-1 against Barca on Wednesday

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi celebrates opening the scoring against Leverkusen during Wednesday's 1-1 draw in Germany 

Messi weaves his way around the floored Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno (right) before finishing coolly into an empty net 

Messi scores his 80th goal in 102 Champions League appearances during the 1-1 draw in Group E on Wednesday night 

Leverkusen forward Admir Mehmedi (left) tussles for possession with with Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen 

Hernandez wins a header from Barca's Marc Bartra (centre) during the 1-1 draw at the Bay Arena on Wednesday night 

Neymar sat in the stands, wrapped up warm, watching on as he starts the recovery process for his groin problem. He was seen hobbling around in the bowels of the stadium ahead of the game, with Barcelona hoping he will be fit to participate in the Club World Cup in Japan, next week.

Injuries to Jeremy Mathieu and Sergi Roberto along with long-term absentees Douglas and Rafinha, left the Catalans short for this game, Luis Enrique forced to put two goalkeepers — Claudio Bravo and Jordi Masip — on the bench. 

Enrique rang the changes and gave some La Masia players a chance. Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta were left at home, while Luis Suarez started on the bench — and the hosts still could not get the win they needed to keep them in the competition, instead heading into the Europa League while Roma finished second. 

Bar Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jordi Alba, none of the other players picked for Barcelona are accustomed to starting many games. The midfield was an area of particular inexperience.

Wilfrid Kaptoum made his debut in the Copa del Rey earlier this season, impressing against Villanovense in the away leg. 

The player started his career as a No 6, but now is closer to a No 8, having been encouraged to play as an 'interior' by coach Garcia Pimienta while in the Juvenil B side.

Behind him, in the Sergio Busquets role, was Sergi Samper, who has come back into Luis Enrique's good books this season. 

The coach was keener to use Gerard Gumbau in the first few months but now fans favourite Samper seems to be the go-to guy when the Spanish defensive midfielder needs a rest.

The only two established attacking players in the side were Messi and Ivan Rakitic and they combined to help Barcelona open the scoring, against the run of play.

The Croatian picked up the ball in midfield and playing an inch-perfect through ball for Messi, who burst into life as he found space behind the Leverkusen defence. 

Out came Bernd Leno, out came a Messi trick, leaving the goalkeeper stranded as he whisked the ball past him and slid it home on his right foot.

Bayer Leverkusen, who were playing for a place in the next round of the Champions League, were unsurprisingly quick to hit back, having made the running in the early stages.

It took just three minutes to equalise, with Admir Mehmedi's cross finding Javier Hernandez after a Hakan Calhanoglu flick on and the Mexican blasted home, denying Ter Stegen a clean sheet in front of his parents, who had come to watch on home soil.

Hernandez has been in blistering form this season, now with 14 goals in 19 games, a key player for the German side after his spell mainly on the bench at Real Madrid. What Louis van Gaal might do for that goal power now at Manchester United. 

Messi (right) brings the ball under control during Barca's 1-1 draw with a plucky Leverkusen side away in Germany 

Argentina captain Messi is surrounded by Leverkusen defenders as he plays a pass under pressure at the Bay Arena  

Barcelona defender Adriano (left) floats a cross into the box as he is closed down by Leverkusen's Christoph Kramer (right) 

Calhanoglu had fired wide early on and then stung the palms of Ter Stegen with a free kick, and he was the man pulling the strings for Bayer Leverkusen.

Barcelona lacked the control that Busquets offers in the middle, with Samper and Kaptoum making technical errors – although still impressing with their lack of fear on the big stage. 

Especially the latter, with Messi even apologising to the 19-year-old Cameroonian for taking a shot when Kaptoum was better placed to hit the ball.

It went wide, and was a good chance to send Barcelona back ahead, with Calhanoglu also missing the target by inches at the start of the second half after a poor header in his own box by Adriano.

Barcelona’s German goalkeeper was getting a good workout, with none of the four defenders ahead of him at their best. Karim Bellarabi tested him with two powerful strikes as the European champions held on, and Ter Stegen also made a final, excellent stop from Hernandez.

When it comes to it, whichever team draws Barcelona in the next round might as well not bother using the video of this game to aid their pre-match preparation, because this performance won’t be anything like what they offer when at full strength. Though you could forgive Europe’s elite for dreaming about it, for a while. 

Barcelona's Munir El Haddadi (left) wins a header during Wednesday night's 1-1 draw with Leverkusen in the Champions League 

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic shields the ball from the challenge of Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah (right) at the Bay Arena 

El Haddadi (left) slides in with a strong challenge on Leverkusen's defender Roberto Hilbert (right) during the 1-1 draw 

Messi sets off on a mazy run from midfield, holding off pressure from Kramer (right) during the 1-1 draw in Group E on Wednesday night

Barcelona goalkeeper and Germany international Marc-Andre ter Stegen (right) smothers the ball ahead of the on-rushing Hernandez