There are a select few clubs who could come from 2-0 down in the backyard of a leading European team and fightback to draw.
There are even fewer clubs who could come from 2-0 down in the backyard of a leading European team and score three times and win.
Yet there is probably only one club in world football which could come from 2-0 down in the backyard of a leading European team to make them feel completely demoralised and bereft in front of their own supporters.
Yet that is exactly what we witnessed in the Champions League this week.
A night that anyone who is associated with Spanish, European and World Champions Real Madrid will never forget; and for very different reasons, a night Liverpool will not be able to forget in a hurry either.
For Tuesday was the night where Anfield was silenced, for all but a pocket of visiting fans in the corner; the night where ruthless Real exposed the failings of last season’s defeated finalists.
On that occasion, in Paris, it was close.
Fast forward eight and a half months and it was a rout as Real piled on yet more Mersey misery.
To recover from being two goals behind so early, and also with major absences in the middle on the shape of Aurélien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos, as well as long David Alaba early to injury, would have deflated most sides.
What followed were Champions League highlights for the ages and a night to savour.
As Spanish media outlet MARCA observed: ‘The truth is that this Real Madrid team simply don’t know when they’re beaten in the Champions League. Tonight was another test of their character and they have proven themselves once again’.
A team of class, character and unstinting belief.
The events on Merseyside made the other match on Tuesday seem almost forgotten but Napoli will not mind quietly having one foot in the quarter-finals.
The Serie A league leaders faced a tough match at Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt but proved more than equal to the task.
After Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a penalty saved, Victor Osimhen scored his 20th goal of the season just before the break.
It got worse for Frankfurt midway through the second half as Randal Kolo Muani was sent off for a bad challenge.
Giovanni di Lorenzo then added a second, placing a shot into the far corner.
The victory gives Napoli a big advantage for the return leg in Italy on March 15.
Not since the days of the great Diego Maradona have Napoli been so admired at home and in Europe.
Another Italian side has an edge going into their second leg after a late goal saw off FC Porto in the San Siro.
Inter Milan went out at this stage of the competition last season and under Antonio Conte failed to get out of the group stage, despite big spending.
One of those big money recruits did the damage to take Inter within 90 minutes of a first European Cup quarter-final in 12 years.
When Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku headed against the post, he was alert to react and swiftly volleyed home a rebound from close range for his fourth goal of the season and his second in a week.
It was also his 10th goal in his last 15 Champions League appearances.
The goal arrived eight minutes after the visitors had been reduced to 10 men when Otavio was shown a yellow card for clipping the ankle of Hakan Calhanoglu ankle as the Inter man was trying to find space to shoot.
With that went Porto’s best chance as Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana denied both Zaidu Sanusi and Mehdi Taremi.
Man City are among the favourites for this season’s tournament – the SBOTOP Champions League betting odds allude to that.
Yet they will have to win at home after being pegged back by RB Leipzig in Germany.
The English champions were good value for their half-time lead, secured midway through the half when Ilkay Gundogan pounced on a mistake in defence and fed Riyad Mahrez who drove home.
Similar to their league draw at Nottingham Forest last weekend, City remained on top but could not convert any further chances and as the home side grew in confidence, they were rewarded when Josko Gvardiol – the Croatian defender who caught the eye at the World Cup – headed in an equaliser following a short corner.
You would still expect City to progress, while Inter and Napoli have the edge.
However, the only real talking point of the week was majestic Real.
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