There was one group that gained clarity: Group A. Since the group was drawn, we have waited to see who from Bordeaux, Juventus, and Bayern Munich would fall-off: settling into third place and become one of the strongest clubs in Europa League.

Before Match Day 1, you could have argued Bayern Munich’s talent and depth had them best situated to deal with the demands of UEFA’s mid-week, schedule congesting group play. Additionally, München is only two years removed from an early Champions League exit, an exit that saw the club restructure their squad with the expressed goal of regaining their place amongst Europe’s elite.

After today’s home loss to Bordeaux, München will have to go back to the drawing board. They still have a chance to advance out of Group A, but their destiny is now out of their hands. München will need to win in Turin and then hope an already-qualified Bordeaux gets a point from Juventus on the final match day.

Neither of those results are impossible, but if München are to take care of their end of the bargain, they will need a new approach. Weakened squad or not, going scoreless at home against Bordeaux should force Louis van Gaal to reassess his side to try and find a solution.

They have two weeks to find it; else, start playing for Europa.

At the top of the other groups, all of Manchester United, Chelsea, Milan and Real Madrid drew. True, Milan and Madrid were playing each other, but it is still a majestic list of clubs. None of those titans were able to get three points, a development that would be astounding if we weren’t two weeks removed from a day where both Barcelona and Real Madrid lost at home.

Only a drastic turn of events will keep Bordeaux from advancing out of the opening round for the first time since the 1999-2000 Champions League. (photo: UEFA)

Group A

Juventus got a first half, stoppage time goal from Mauro Camoranesi in route to a 1-0 win in Haifa over Maccabi. The Israelis are still without a point, still without a goal, but the story of this win is how it improves Juventus’s chance to advance.

Now four points up on third-place Bayern, Juve need only a draw over München on the next match day to advance. Given Juventus was able to get a point at Allainz Arena, the Italians look near certain to advance (one way or another). They sit at eight points, two points behind table-leading Bordeaux, and with a match left in France, they can still win this group.

For their inconsistent play in Ligue Un, Bordeaux have been one of the stronger teams in Champions League. Though their opponent today was depleted, they took care of business in a way neither Chelsea nor Manchester United could. After their 2-0 win in Bavaria (with goals from Yoann Gourcuff and Maraoune Chamakh), only a loss to Maccabi and some goal differential magic will keep them out of the next round.

It is the first time in nearly ten years Bordeaux will make it to the second stage of Champions League. That season, Bayern Munich made it to the tournament’s semifinals.

VfL Wolfsburg's impressive win in Istanbul quelled doubts stemming from their league form. (Photo: UEFA)

Group B

Manchester United may have been playing a half-squad, but CSKA Moscow impressed, nearly making them pay for it.

First half goals from Alan Dzageov (his third of the competition) and Milos Krasic helped CSKA to a 2-1 halftime lead, and when Vasili Berezutski made it 3-1, CSKA looked poised for a landmark victory. For a CSKA club that is still setting-in with their recently-hired coach, it was a shockingly productive first 47 minutes.

Two goals down, Alex Ferguson started putting his club’s better foot forward. Within ten minutes, both Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney were brought on, replacing Fabio de Silva and Nani. The pressure built, with Igor Akinfeev forced into six saves before Paul Scholes finally drew United within one with a header in the 84th minute.

Then the man who has become CSKA’s bane, Antonio Valencia, scored another late goal, this time giving United a 3-3, come-from-behind draw.

While in the big picture this was a good point for CSKA, they will be remiss to have blown a two goal lead. In addition, a second yellow given late to Deividas Šemberas (who has had a difficult Champions League) will keep the Lithuanian out of CSKA’s trip to Turkey.

That trip, intimidating by reputation, looks easier after VfL Wolfsburg’s 3-0 win in Istanbul. Though their respective league forms held Besiktas as the in-form side, Wolfsburg dominated the injury-riddled side thanks to goals from Zvjezdan Misimović, Christian Gentner and Edin Džeko. Playing without Rüştü Reçber, Fabian Ernst and Nihat Kahveci, Besiktas proved to be out-gunned and now shift their focus to fighting CSKA for the group’s third place, Europa League birth.

CSKA, though, can still make it through to the competition’s next stage. They have four points, three behind Wolfsburg, but still get the Russians in Moscow in December. In-between, CSKA has a trip to Turkey while Manchester United goes to Germany. As the Red Devils showed today, a win against them is never a given, no matter the squad they start. With Turkey looking less intimidating than it did hours ago, Wolfsburg remains well within reach of third-place CSKA.

Brandão and Marseille posted the most lopsided result of this season's competition. (Photo: UEFA)

Group C

Milan and Real Madrid played to a even-handed, 1-1 draw, with a Ronaldinho penalty kick equalizing a 29th-minute goal from embattled Madrid striker Karim Benzema. The draw leaves the clubs tied atop the group, each with seven points.

While both teams generated chances, Madrid will feel they could have had three points. Particularly early, Madrid was the better side, and while that dominance evened-out over the course of the match, the visitors had a number of chances to put their foot on this match early. Instead, they let up after Benzema’s goal, and when Milan was awarded a penalty kick after a Pepe hand call, Madrid was equalized.

It was another unsteady performance from Madrid, one in which both their capabilities and failings were on display. While the result leaves them in strong position to get out of the group, that is not the standard against which Galacticos 2.0 are being judged. The Pellegrini scrutiny should intensify, particularly if pundits choose to focus on a number of second half chances that could have seen Milan get all three points.

Pellegrini-supporters, however, can still hold on to the fact that Madrid was without Cristiano Ronaldo, though in doing so they will be conceding an expensive Madrid squad’s dependence on one player. Regardless, today’s draw will lead to more questions from Madridistas.

While the San Siro saw a tight affair, Stade Vélodrome hosted the most lopsided result of this Champions League season. All of the quality Marseille has lacked this season was packed into one night. All of the capabilities FC Zürich had shown remain in Milan. As a result, Didier Dechamps got the result for which he’s been waiting, with l’OM racing to a 6-1 victory.

Marseille had five different players chip in goals after they were helped by a third minute own goal from Zürich’s Silvan Aegerter.

With matches to play against both Milan and Madrid, Marseille has a long way to go to get out of the group despite the fact they are only one point behind Group C’s co-leaders. Each of the leaders still have one match against Zürich, meaning Marseille likely needs two wins to move above clubs that seem should get to 10 points.

Sergio Agüero's brace off the bench gave Atlético a surprising point. (Photo: UEFA)

Group D

APOEL continues to be a tough team to beat, but after a late goal from Radamel Falcão the Cypriots remain winless, yet to score a goal on their own in this season’s tournament. Falcão’s shot from distance confirmed Porto’s place in the final sixteen with a 1-0 victory, their nine points putting them seven up on Atlético Madrid.

The Atléti got their second point thanks to a stoppage time free kick from Kün Agüero, his second goal of the match after coming on as a substitute in the 53rd minute. The Argentine opened the scoring in the 66th before Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, in his first match of the Champions League season (having finished his suspension), put Chelsea ahead with goals in the 82nd and 88th minute.

The result keeps Chelsea in first place, though their lead is down to one point ahead of Match Day 5’s trip to the Dragão. While it looked as if that match would decide who would win the group, Atlético’s performance against Chelsea at the Vincente Calderon forces us to reconsider whether they can give Porto similar troubles when the Portuguese champions go to Madrid on December 8.

Even if Porto beats Chelsea in two weeks – a tall order on its own – a Atlético team that may be righted under Quique Sánchez Flores could give Group D back to the Blues.

Richard Farley is a U.S.-based contributor to World Soccer Reader. He also hosts Inside the Six, the site’s regular podcast. He can be reached at richardfarley at gmail dot com and followed on Twitter, username “richardfarley.” And while you are at it, feel free to check out RF Football.