The group stage abolitionists were forced to endure another round of good-yet-supposedly-not-needed ties on Matchday 2 as the minnows once again swam upstream against Europe's biggest fish.
To be honest I watched Tuesday's openers with feigned interest as it was Wednesday that I had pre-determined as the afternoon to drop the mouse and take advantage of the multi-televisioned Sportsnet studio. It was not the Real Madrid juggernaut that piqued my interest, but rather a pair of careers going in opposite directions were expected to start on two of the game's most electrifying stages.
In Manchester, it was Ryan Giggs and in Milan, it was Ronaldinho.
To start, the latest virtuoso performance by Giggs at Old Trafford proves my theory that he is indeed football's version of Benjamin Button. For the umpteenth time, Giggs used the second 45 minutes to save Manchester United from group stage embarrassment against the talented VfL Wolfsburg. The Welshman deflected in a free kick to draw the game even before breaking the current Bundesliga champions by distracting its back four long enough to allow Michael Carrick to slot home the winner.
The multi-directional Giggs is not to be missed in what might be his final season in England's top flight. In fact, I have made the decision to spend 48 hours in Manchester two weekends from now in order to see Bolton try to slow down a local legend that I will forever argue scored one of the premiership's 10 best goals back in the semi-final of the 1999 FA Cup.
But in Milan, a player seven years the junior to Giggs failed to crack the starting 11 for the Italian city's Associazione Calcio as the Rossoneri lost 1-0 to lowly FC Zurich. The result and brief appearance as an at times tricky but otherwise disinterested substitute completed a brutal week for the fading superstar.
Now those who listen to ESPNSoccernet's weekly podcast will find this redundant, as the always insightful Jon Harris-Bass, Dan Mason and Adriano Russo beat me to the sucker-punch by pegging the Brazilian as a 'has been' in the latest broadcast.
But 'has been' is letting Ronnie off easy. I prefer party clown. Useless stepovers, careless passes, audacious attempts all signify that the once recognized FIFA Player of the year might not be long for the European stage.
In fact, if the New York Red Bulls are looking to make a splash in its fancy new stadium next summer, sign Ronaldinho.
In North America, fading talents are coronated.
