Bayer stun Valencia

Though some amateur defending allowed Jonas to give the Spaniards a narrow lead heading into the break, the home side had the heroics of goalkeeper Bernd Leno to thank for the scoreline not being greater.

And the Werkself came out for the second period a completely different outfit, turning the fixture on its head with a pair of quickfire goals from Andre Schuerrle and Sidney Sam.

The victory puts Leverkusen second in Group E behind Chelsea, who ran out 5-0 winners at home to Genk, with a four-point margin now opened up between Valencia and the German side.

Robin Dutt’s troops stumbled out of the blocks and remained that way for the majority of the first half, though Valencia were their own worst enemies in the final third whilst trying to capitalise.

After bamboozling their hosts with a series of intricate set-piece plays during the opening 15 minutes, a particularly rehearsed free-kick routine led to Pablo Hernandez finding himself one-on-one with Leno.

His first touch was poor, however, leading to the opportunity going to waste – not that Bayer learned anything from the let-off when Roberto Soldado hit the post on the 20 minute mark.

It was only a matter of time before the Spaniards found the breakthrough, and it came four minutes later thanks to the worst piece of defending yet.

Centre-backs Omer Toprak and Stefan Reinartz fluffed their lines not once, but twice in quick succession, virtually teeing up a grateful Soldado on the left flank.

His articulate centre from the outside of his boot found strike partner Jonas two yards out for the tap-in to draw first blood, triggering jeers and chants for retired ex-defender Sami Hyypia from the home fans.

Soldado could have easily had one himself seconds shy of the half-hour when more poor defending allowed him to rise unmarked only to head over from close range, before Leno, standing in for the injured Rene Adler, came to the home team’s rescue in a big way.

The teenager, on loan from Stuttgart, added to his leading tally of saves in this season’s Champions League throughout the contest, but none were more spectacular than the double save on 31 minutes first from Jonas and then from Hernandez.

Valencia stopper Diego Alves, left with nothing to do for most of the half, was not to be upstaged with five minutes to play, tipping a superb Schuerrle drive over the bar before saving Stefan Keissling’s point-blank effort from the ensuing corner.

It came as no surprise when Dutt made a defensive switch at half-time, replacing Reinartz with Champions League debutant Manuel Friedrich, but what was not expected was the game’s complete turnaround.

Showing focused defending and dynamic attacking that had been absent for 45 minutes, Bayer went hunting for a way back into the game and found it on 52 minutes.

Michael Ballack’s deflected shot fell into the path of Michal Kadlec on the left, whose cut back picked out Schuerrle perfectly and the young forward produced a pinpoint finish into the far bottom corner to match.

Four minutes later and the pendulum had well and truly swung in the home side’s favour thanks to a lightning-fast counter, capped by the pace of Sam and a world-class finish into the far top corner from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Soldado continued to test Leno, particularly with one chance 17 minutes from time, but the hosts justified their win over the 90 by finishing strongly and almost extending their lead via substitute Eren Derdiyok’s fierce drive and a quality solo move from Schuerrle in the closing stages.

The defeat for Unai Emery’s side means a win in the return game at the Mestalla is a must if they are to stand a fighting chance of making the last 16.