The next time the Champions League becomes the dominant topic in soccer, we will be approaching Valentine's Day. An entire World Cup will have come and gone. We'll have spent many thousands of words talking about player wear and tear, particularly for players on the four teams that will have played seven matches in Qatar.
There is always a winter gap between the Champions League group stage and knockout rounds, but this one is going to feel immense. So before we wave a brief goodbye to the world's biggest club competition, let's take a valedictory look at what we just saw and what we'll see when everything picks up again.