Chicharito Goal Can't Advance Bayer Leverkusen In The Champions League

It's no shame to be eliminated from the Champions League by the current best player in the world, who hapens to be one of the greatest of all time. That's what happened to Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Bayer Leverkusen Wednesday, when they were eliminated by Lionel Messi and Barcelona.

Not that they didn't go down without a fight. The game ended 1-1 and Bayer Leverkusen needed to win. Even though Barcelona fielded a weakened lineup (it feels silly to refer to any lineup that has Lionel Messi in it as "weakened"), on current form they are as tough to beat as anybody in the world.

Hernandez, in particular, was in good form, scoring his 12th goal in his last 11 games.

'Chicharito' Hernandez stays red-hot, provides immediate answer for Leverkusen vs Barcelona. #UCL @HeinekenSoccer https://t.co/ZM3wK2h1wO

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 9, 2015

Unfortunately for Leverkusen, that goal was the equalizer, because just minutes before, Lionel Messi did this:

Messi doing Messi things. pic.twitter.com/0pz1Um09Ok

— HuffPost Sports (@HuffPostSports) December 9, 2015

Hernandez had a few more chances in the game, including forcing this incredible save from Barcelona keeper Mar-Andre Ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen reflexes are something else pic.twitter.com/bLGjqQf5nl

— Niko (@Nikomarvel) December 9, 2015

Perhaps his best chance, though, would have come on this Karim Bellarabi shot that maybe he shouldn't have taken (to be fair, it wasn't a bad look). Chicharito was certainly pissed though.

Chicharito se enoja con Bellarabi. Pásasela mi buen!!!! pic.twitter.com/h8mfeTDe9j

— RIP Chutazos (@Chutazos) December 9, 2015

Now Bayer Leverkusen are headed to the Europa League (the draw is on Monday) and Barcelona are headed, probably, deep into the Champions League as usual.

Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus