We look at the best and worst moments from the latest round of UEFA Champions League action.
Team of the week
Game of the week - Manchester United 3 FC Basel 3
Swiss outfit FC Basel came within a whisker of claiming an impressive scalp on Tuesday evening and ending Manchester United's remarkable run of results on home soil in European competition. The Red Devils have not tasted defeat at Old Trafford in the UEFA Champions League for 17 months, but came mightily close to seeing that streak brought to an abrupt halt in midweek. Things appeared to be going swimmingly for Sir Alex Ferguson's side 17 minutes in, with Danny Welbeck's early brace putting the hosts in complete control. Basel, though, emerged for the second half with the bit between their teeth and quickly set about turning the tie on its head. Fabian Frei handed them a route back into the game, before his namesake Alexander Frei completed the turnaround. The experienced striker restored parity on the hour mark, before keeping his cool to convert from the spot on 76 minutes. United were down but they were not out and with just seconds of the 90 remaining, Nani swung a cross to the back post and Ashley Young stooped to nod home a dramatic leveller. United had chances to snatch a winner in stoppage-time, but a draw was probably a fair reflection on a pulsating contest.
Player of the week - Lionel Messi
Remarkably, Barcelona's mercurial Argentine playmaker appears to be getting even better. It was difficult to see how Messi could possibly top his heroics in 2010/11, but he has opened the new campaign in spectacular style. The South American seems capable of scoring at will and enjoyed a field day against Belarusian minnows BATE Borisov on Wednesday. Two more goals were added to his mightily-impressive tally, with that brace taking him into joint-second place on the list of top goalscorers in Barcelona's illustrious history. Given that he is now just 41 behind Cesar Rodriguez in first place, there is every chance he could become the club's most decorated marksman before the season is out.
Goal of the week - Bafetimbi Gomis
Gomis is well on course to enjoy his most productive campaign as a Lyon player, with confidence fully restored to the France international. Once a player feels good about their game, they take chances that they may otherwise have passed by. Gomis offered a perfect example of how confident he is with his game right now during a home date with Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday. With 23 minutes on the clock, the ball fortuitously broke his way, but there was nothing lucky about his finish. After taking a touch and weighing up his options, Gomis proceeded to loft a delicate chip over the despairing head of Dinamo keeper Ivan Kelava from the edge of the box. The quality of the finish makes up for the rather elaborate celebrations, which included Gomis striking a Usain Bolt pose and having his boots shined by a team-mate.
Gaffe of the week - BATE Borisov defence
As if playing reigning European champions Barcelona is not difficult enough, BATE proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot on home soil. They were able to hold out for 20 minutes against Pep Guardiola's side on Wednesday, but contributed massively to opening the floodgates thereafter. Admittedly marking Lionel Messi does require full concentration, but Aleksandr Volodko really should have been looking at what he was doing when he put through his own net to open the scoring. Pedro grabbed a second for Barca just two minutes later, before a moment of madness from BATE keeper Aleksandr Gutor saw the game ended as a contest. He inexplicably dropped the ball onto the head of Messi and any hope BATE had of pulling off an upset quickly disappeared. Messi and Villa added two more goals in the second half to compound the hosts' misery.
Save of the week - Joe Hart
Manchester City may have found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, but the finger of blame could not be pointed in the direction of Hart. The Blues' first-choice stop-stopper proved why he is number one for club and country with a string of fine saves at the Allianz Arena. Unfortunately for Hart and City, his luck was out. Bayern broke the deadlock on 38 minutes through Mario Gomez after Hart had pulled off a remarkable double stop to deny Franck Ribery and Thomas Muller. The England international was at it again moments before the interval, as he kept Daniel van Buyten at bay, but once again the ball broke kindly for Gomez to bundle home. The burly Bayern striker almost completed his hat-trick in the second half, but Hart was able to tip a powerful header away from the target, out of Muller's reach and around the post.
Controversy of the week - Carlos Tevez
Unless you have been holidaying on the moon this week, you will be aware that Mr Tevez caused something of a stir during Manchester City's trip to Munich. The Argentine striker reportedly refused to step off the bench during the second half of the Blues' 2-0 defeat. Roberto Mancini claimed afterwards that Tevez was 'finished' at City as far as he was concerned, while personalities from across the sporting world lined up to condemn the fiery South American. Tevez claims there has been a misunderstanding and that he never refused to play, but City have still taken the decision to suspend him for two weeks. Whether he is seen in a City shirt again remains to be seen, with it the general consensus that the Blues need to take action against a player who appears to have grown too big for his boots.
