Timo Gebhart’s beautifully placed cross had Cacau leaping over Carlos Puyol for Stuttgart’s 25th minute strike. For most part of the first half Stuttgart was clearly the ascendant team as Barca’s normally free flowing game disappeared.
But they were able to get the all important equalizer in the 51st minute as the Stuttgart defense was caught napping when Gerard Pique headed the ball down to Zlatan Ibrahimovic whose first shot was parried by Jens Lehmann. Fortunately for Ibrahimovic and Barca, he was able to tap the ball past the Stuttgart goalie off the rebound.
Arsenal connections: Aleksiandr Hleb supplied the ball to Gebhart for his goal scoring cross. Jens Lehmann kept goal for Stuttgart and did quite well till he almost gifted Barca with a late win when he misjudged a cross completely. Errant goalkeepers seems to be an Arsenal legacy. Thierry Henry came on in the 53d minute amidst the swirl of transfer rumours and created some energy in the attack as Barca pressed for the winner.
Barca head back to Camp Nou in good position to win the second leg and enter the semi-finals.