After a two-month hiatus through the dark winter months, the Champions League resumed with four games featuring sublime finishes, a head butt from a pantomime villain and a reminder of why nothing in football is set in stone.
Barcelona are heading for a third La Liga title in a row but while their domestic dominance shows no sign of ending, the Champions League favourites must be at their show-stopping best in the return at the Nou Camp after allowing Arsenal to stamp their own title credentials on the competition.
For all their mesmerising passing, movement and razorsharp attacks orchestrated by the mercurial Lionel Messi, Barca proved fallible to Arsenal's counter-punching abilities and lost 2-1 at a pumped-up Emirates Stadium.
Leading thanks to David Villa's crisp finish, the Spaniards, without ever being in cruise control, appeared well set for victory until Robin van Persie's 78th-minute equaliser provided all the spark the Premier League side needed.
It was perhaps fitting that it should be Andrei Arshavin who secured victory for Arsene Wenger's side.
The Russian forward has been far from his best this season but Wenger has not lost faith, saying recently that Arshavin was a "great player" who was hitting top form.
While the shy and reserved Arshavin let others take the plaudits for his side's battling display, AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso did his utmost to mask the failings of his team mates by losing his head at the San Siro.
Milan are an ageing team who appear light years away from being able to challenge for an eighth European crown, allowing an injury-hit Tottenham Hotspur to frustrate them before Peter Crouch's breakaway goal secured a fine victory for the Champions League debutants.
Gattuso, never one to go through 90 minutes without a confrontation or two, directed his wrath at Spurs assistant manager Joe Jordan.
USHERED AWAY
Not content with grabbing Jordan by the throat in one touchline flare-up during the game, Gattuso went back for a second go after the final whistle and had to be ushered away after headbutting the former Scotland international.
Gattuso was perhaps fortunate Jordan did not retaliate.
Jordan, once an AC Milan player, was a renowned hardman with the nickname "jaws", a moniker he may have partly earned for the dental treatment the defenders brave enough to mark him often needed.
Spurs' fine performance was mirrored elsewhere in Italy when Shakhtar Donetsk, in the last 16 for the first time, added to Roma coach Claudio Ranieri's troubles with a 3-2 victory.
With the spotlight falling on Ukraine as Euro 2012 co-hosts next year, Shakhtar, one of the country's two "big clubs" along with Dynamo Kiev, are doing their bit to showcase East European football -- with a little help from their Brazilian contingent who contributed all three goals.
Shakhtar, owned by billionaire oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, are reaping the benefits of his considerable financial muscle and the 2009 UEFA Cup winners should finish Roma off at their own Donbass Arena.
Valencia's 1-1 draw at home to Schalke 04 was the least entertaining of the four ties, but noteworthy for Raul's 69th Champions League goal.
Cast aside by Real Madrid after warming the bench for most of last season, Raul moved to Germany and the 33-year-old Spanish striker reminded his countryman he retains all his predatory instincts by scoring a valuable away goal for the Bundesliga side.
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