Barcelona: Slow Start and Finish Could Mean Exit from Champions League

There's no denying it—Barcelona are the heavy favorites to win this year's Champions League.

The Spanish team's first step towards answering everyone's expectations begins Tuesday night against Bayer Leverkusen.

Sure, Real Madrid displayed a (slightly) better performance in the group stage of the tournament. But, anyone watching La Liga knows that Barcelona has Real Madrid's number and, if push came to shove, Barcelona could knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League as easily as they knocked them out of the Copa Del Ray.

However, from their performance in the group stage, Barcelona showed they have a small, yet exploitable, weakness—the start and finish of a match.

Just look at what Osasuna did to them in their most recent league match. Barcelona let Dejan Lekic score not once, but twice, before the 23rd minute, helping Osasuna to a 3-2 victory.

AC Milan took advantage of them in a similar way in the group round of the Champions League. The Italian club scored in the first minute and again in the next-to-last minute of the match. It was a 2-2 result for Barcelona and the only dent in their performance during the group round.

Guess what other Champions League team knows how to start and end games with purpose. You got it—Bayer Leverkusen.

In a recent Bundesliga match, Bayer Leverkusen earned a draw against VfB Stuttgart thanks in part to a goal in the 11th minute.

And, in their most recent league match, Bayer Leverkusen started very strongly against a heavily favored Borussia Dortmund team that is at the top of the Bundesliga table. Borussia Dortmund came out swinging, attacking early and shooting at goal three times in the first 10 minutes.

In the 45th minute that Borussia Dortmund netted a goal. It was the only score of the match, and Bayer Leverkusen ended the game well, preventing the best team in Germany from getting a shot off after the 67th minute.

In the Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen showed they have the stamina to put together attacks late in matches, scoring three of their eight group-round goals in the 80th minute or onward.

In fact, the game-winner against Chelsea was scored in added time of the second half by Manuel Friedrich.

Like I said before, Lionel Messi and company are heavy favorites to win the Champions League.

But if knockout-round opponents Bayer Leverkusen can continue to start and end their games fast, Barcelona fans will be left wondering what could have been for Lionel Messi and company.