Match day one and two of the UEFA Champions League saw 32 teams set of an arduous journey for European club football's ultimate prize.

Whilst they may be the piranha in their local pond gobbling up the competition, an early reality check for Europe's finest was delivered by Barcelona who played a brand of football beamed in from the future in their opening fixture. It was a performance with a glorious, expansive brilliance that left Greek giants Panathinaikos looking like passengers stranded on a platform waiting for the 5:15 to Altona.

Any thoughts the Catalans might have assuaged their appetite for shiny silver trophies in the last campaign can be benched. Their first half performance at the Camp Nou had more party tricks than a mad Monday with Fev.

The best of them was the 3rd goal conjured up by the Argentine wizard Lionel Messi.

To watch Barcelona construct this goal is to be in the presence of an artist as oil and canvas come to life. They move the ball around with such grace and ease, tracing the outline of their masterpiece around the perimeter of the penalty box.

When the moment of inspiration arrives though, it is swift, methodical and brilliant.

Messi snaking his way into the penalty box through a flurry of defenders. One touch, give and go. Another, touch and repeat the pattern again. In a blinding flash the ball is bulging in the back of the net and you are left to marvel at the audacity and genius of it.

Through the tumult and the cut and thrust of a football match Barcelona bring symmetry to their work that eclipses the chaos and chance of the contest.

It's Jackson Pollock in football boots. A thing of true beauty.

Meanwhile, more Catalan magic was on display in North London this morning as Arsenal had the joy of six thanks to Cesc at the expense of Portugal's S.C Braga. Fabregas was the maestro again, and whilst he's conducting the Emirates Orchestra the Gunners are positively symphonic.

It's not so much art and poetry on the mind of Sir Alex Ferguson, just some old fashioned playground wisdom.

"Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me..." the saying goes.

That is unless you are a ridiculously gifted and wealthy footballer with an ego the size of the national debt.

That'd be you Wayne Rooney.

Sir Alex's decision to "ground" Rooney and prevent him from travelling to his hometown to face off against his old club Everton last weekend was final confirmation that in the era of the millionaire mug as football star, the player has become more important than the game.

Rooney found is in the doghouse after it was revealed he'd used a portion of his sizeable self and wealth and decided to, urr, redistribute it, with an enterprising young woman who was more than willing to provide a full match report to the British tabloids.

Ferguson's decision was based on his fear was that the locals would provide the sort of marriage guidance advice that might be a bit much for our Wayne. It's a damning assessment by Ferguson of Rooney's ability to cope with pressure. Either that or Sir Alex was putting Rooney's personal discomfort ahead if his teams needs in a sign that players are becoming bigger than the clubs (and fans) who pay their exorbitant wages.

In the end, Tim Cahill and friends enjoyed a late get out of jail double strike to rob United of a win in a 3-3 thriller. Cahill's stocks as one of the EPL's most damaging midfielders continue to rise.

This weekend United face off against their nearest and dearest enemy from the red half of Merseyside. If Ferguson thought the taunts for Rooney would be blue at Goodison, well, as that song said, Wayne ain't seen nothin' yet.

Nor would Sir Alex's mood have been improved by his team being held to a scoreless draw at Old Trafford by Glasgow Rangers in their opening UCL fixture. Add to that the injury to Antonio Valencia and you can close the book on a forgettable week for The Red Devils.

For United, another moderate start to the season won't have the good people of Salford crying into their pints just yet. Sir Alex's team is missing a commanding midfield presence. It needs to be sorted soon because the way Chelsea are stacking up the points and piling on goals, the title might be out of sight before Santa come calling.

In the A-League, Adelaide United's Marcos Flores mightn't be in Messi's class, but his highlights reel isn't a bad curtain raiser - his solo run and goal against the Newcastle Jets Jets would have had the terraces rocking anywhere in the world.

United, last years' cellar dweller, remain undefeated on top of the table whilst defending champion Sydney FC are winless at the bottom.

And Ernie Merrick will need to be a better conductor than Leonard Bernstein if his Melbourne Victory side is going to have any real impact this season.

Last night's frustrating 0-0 draw with a well organized Wellington Phoenix exposed a number if deficiencies for Merrick's men, most notably a lack of width particularly on the left. Merrick would do well to get the mine sweeper out to scan the flanks to see why his players seemed so scared to get into the space offered to them.

The trip to North Queensland is the last thing his side needs after two matches in four days but that's the assignment they face.

For the Phoenix, they've now gone 23 matches unbeaten in Wellington at the cake tin. Their season will be determined by how the fare on the road, and if they can pick up all three points in the game at AAMI Park against the Melbourne Heart on Sunday, they will be well satisfied with their September raid by the Yarra.