Barcelona had to scrap for a 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyon and Manchester United were frustrated in a goalless game at Inter Milan as the Champions League returned with a lack of respect for reputation on Tuesday.
While Barcelona needed an untidy goal from Thierry Henry to take a slim advantage from the first leg of their last-16 tie against Lyon, holders United failed to take advantage of a series of early chances in Milan.
United did extend their unbeaten run to a record 20 Champions League matches but manager Alex Ferguson again failed to get the better of Jose Mourinho and they will have to tread carefully in the second leg at Old Trafford.
The other two ties are also well poised after Porto twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Atletico Madrid and Arsenal produced the only victory of the night, 1-0 at home to Roma thanks to a Robin van Persie penalty.
JITTERY START
Barcelona's elegant passing game, similar to the one that took Spain to victory at Euro 2008, has been the envy of Europe this season but their form has deserted them lately and they made another jittery start against Lyon.
The French side took the lead from a source familiar to anyone following the Champions League down the years, as the game's leading set-piece specialist Juninho deceived Victor Valdes with a dipping free kick from the left.
Barcelona were terrible in the first half and Karim Benzema came within a whisker of making it 2-0 but they improved after the break and got a deserved equaliser when French striker Henry stooped to head in a deflected corner. Continued...
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