Sometimes, in football, you just cannot win. Every club, every fan, every journalist craves seeing brilliant footballers develop in front of their eyes but one of the consequences of discovering a true great in your team is that, from time to time, you have to do without him.
Spanish clubs provided flair and technique in a perfect four victories on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League but the even louder message sent out to their competitors across Europe is that each La Liga side has added mental and defensive durability this season.
Even by the standards of Real Madrid CF it has been an extraordinary week at the Santiago Bernabéu.