Leverkusen fall to spot-on Spartak

Bayer 04 Leverkusen were made to pay the penalty in Russia as two spot-kicks enabled FC Spartak Moskva to open their UEFA Cup Group E campaign with a victory.

Penalty double
Roman Pavlyuchenko converted the first penalty on 63 minutes before Mozart celebrated his 28th birthday with a goal from the spot 14 minutes later. Substitute Paul Freier pulled one back for the German side in added time but Leverkusen, who have not won an away match in Europe in their last 18 attempts, remain on three points following their 1-0 win against Toulouse FC in their opening group game.

Busy Pletikosa
The Russian side had the first chance in the seventh minute as Pavlyuchenko shot wide of the far post from 12 metres before Spartak goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa was challenged a minute later and had to push away a dangerous effort from Tranquillo Barnetta. Stanislav Cherchesov's team nearly went ahead in the 14th minute only for Radoslav Kováč's header to be deflected behind for a corner while Yegor Titov soon fired over from close range. Leverkusen's best opportunity arrived on the half-hour as Pletikosa forced Arturo Vidal's 25-metre shot over the crossbar.

Adler beaten
Spartak finally opened the scoring when Pavlyuchenko fired his penalty down the middle of René Adler's goal after Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling had fouled Dmitri Torbinskiy. Adler kept his side in it with 15 minutes remaining when he fended away Welliton's dangerous left-foot strike, but the goalkeeper was powerless to prevent the visitors going two down in the 77th minute. After some fine Spartak passing, Adler brought down Maxym Kalynychenko and Brazilian Mozart placed his penalty in the bottom-right corner. Freier reduced arrears when his looping effort from the right wing found its way past Pletikosa but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.