Summary: After another round of Champions League fixtures midweek with the return legs ready to set the final outcome at last, we examine each of the key contests where something important was revealed and whether the favorites in Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid still have left some danger for themselves next week, beginning with the Bavarian giants who left the most in their 2-0 win over Juventus. Real Madrid seems to have left little doubt for the second leg in Turkey and Barcelona has several midnight vigils ahead with its injury report with Lionel Messi, but Bayern Munich both exposed a problem yet again for the Italian champions while simultaneously leaving the door open and launching insults at Gigi Buffon who is easily the best player at his position in the world. Will Bayern Munich learn the lesson from their Arsenal experience, can Juventus come up with a Plan B in midfield that can work around the problems Andrea Pirlo can deliver if marked with effectiveness and can Antonio Conte find a striker to get hot and provide the goals when his team needs them most in the season? These are questions that must be answered and so, too, must some personnel decisions for all the teams including Barcelona who not only look at risk for Lionel Messi but have lost Javier Mascherano for an extended period of time. Loads here on the Champions League, several bold predictions made months ago that have now come true and whether or not Real Madrid or Bayern Munich are the true favorite in this tournament.
