The UEFA Champions League continues today with more second leg Round of 16 matches, as two more teams will advance to the quarter-final stage.
The focus shifts to London and Gelsenkirchen, after a thrilling match yesterday in Barcelona and a steamrolling of a waning Italian power in Donetsk.
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Arsenal and Barcelona provided all the drama yesterday as the Catalans needed a two goal victory to advance, and they got just that.
In a game that probably shouldn't have been mired by controversy but ended up so, Barcelona bossed the possession as was expected by just about everyone who has watched football in the past five years. Referee Massimo Busacca had a howler of a match, clearly influenced by the intimidating throng assembled inside the Camp Nou.
Not that it mattered, of course, as Barca thoroughly controlled the play for the lion's share of the match. Yet still, a tying goal off a set-piece blunder by Barcelona defender Sergio Busquets put Arsenal back into a match they had very little business being in, giving the Gunners a bit of hope on what was shaping up to be another embarrassing night in Catalonia.
A mere three minutes after Busquets' own-goal breathed life into the visitors, referee Busacca ejected Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie, showing the Dutchman his second yellow card for shooting the ball after an offside call. It was a soft call to say the least, and one that completely sucked whatever life Arsenal had left.
A 71st minute (legitimate) penalty, awarded to Barcelona after Busacca had already indicated a goal kick on the same play, sealed the deal for the Blaugrana. Still, just a goal behind and with the away goals rule looming large, Arsenal would have much preferred to have Van Persie on the end of a last-minute breakaway pass rather than Nicholas Bendtner.
One can only guess how Van Persie would have handled the pass, but it isn't hard to imagine that he'd do far better than the "lead-foot first touch straight to the keeper" act that Bendter pulled off.
Over in the Ukraine, Roma's self-destruction continued as host Shakhtar Donetsk further dismantled the once-proud Italian side.
After a dreadful 3-1 losing performance at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma went one better and didn't bother to score a goal in the return leg, succumbing to a much better Donetsk side 3-0.
It's a bit saddening to see Roma as a mere shadow of its former self, but they are a side that was in need of an overhaul quite a while ago, and perhaps this unceremonious two-legged thumping at the hands of an (relatively) unfancied Ukraining team is the impetus for change.
Shakhtar now has the honour of facing Barcelona in the next round. It was a good run while it lasted.
On to today's matches...
Tottenham vs. AC Milan (Spurs lead 1-0)
Spurs have had a storybook run through this competition, gaining particular plaudits for their performances against Italian sides.
After putting Inter in their place, Tottenham has moved on to AC Milan without skipping a beat. The North Londoners edged out a 1-0 win at the San Siro, although Spurs dominant wing play opened up the game far more than the final score indicated.
Heading back to White Hart Lane, Tottenham have to feel confident about their chances. They've exposed Milan as a narrow, slower side that can be exploited through sheer athleticism and guile. That said, if Milan can slow down the match, they certainly have the talent and experience to take over and pot a couple of goals.
This certainly looks to be the match of the day.
Schalke 04 vs. Valencia (Series tied 1-1)
By far the lesser light pairing of the Round of 16, the first leg flew under the radar and will likely do so again today.
Neither side is particularly glamourous, but both have proven that they can play solid soccer worthy of this competition.
From the first leg, there is very little to separate the two sides, as Real Madrid legend Raul tallied a the crucial away goal for his new side Schalke that has put the German club in the driver's seat.
Schalke has yet to lose at the Veltins Arena in this tournament, having only conceded a single goal while pouring in eight. Valencia has shown that it can be an offensive force in the Champions League against weaker opponents, but it stands to reason that this may be the end of the line for the Spanish side.