What we learned on Tuesday ...

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Oct 21, 2009

Rubin Kazan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the UEFA Champions League when the small Russian club beat defending champion Barcelona, 2-1, at the Nou Camp. On a night of drama, Liverpool's season went from bad to worse when it lost, 2-1, to Lyon at home. Meanwhile, Inter Milan's winless streak in Europe reached eight games. Here are things we learned on Tuesday ...

Barcelona isn't going to knocked off its game by one loss.

Defending champion Barcelona's 2-1 loss at home to Russia's Rubin Kazan is perhaps the biggest upset since the Champions League format was adopted, but Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola appeared to take the loss in stride.

"These things happen," he said. "It's not the first time and I doubt it will be the last. I didn't feel like we played a bad match." Barcelona had a 24-3 edge in shots and had possession for almost three quarters of the game but was undone by well-taken goals by Russian Aleksandr Ryazantsev and Turk Gokdeniz Karadeniz.

Liverpool doesn't have the depth to play with the big boys.

This was apparent by Manager Rafael Benitez's decision to start Steven Gerrard against Lyon on Tuesday. The Liverpool captain, suffering from a groin injury, limped off after 24 minutes, and the Reds went on to drop a 2-1 decision. Liverpool was also without the injured Fernando Torres against Lyon. "We had too many problems before the game with injuries," said Benitez.

Benitez's tenure at Anfield may be over if Liverpool doesn't beat Manchester United at home on Sunday. As it is, the Reds have lost four games in a row in all competitions, their worst run for 22 years. The loss to Lyon left the Reds in third place in Group E behind Lyon and Fiorentina.

Inter Milan's European troubles aren't over.

Inter Milan may have put itself back on top in Italy's Serie A with its 5-0 win at Genoa, but it finds itself in last place in Group F of the Champions League after its was held to a 2-2 tie by Dynamo Kiev. The draw extended its Champions League's winless streak to eight game. Dynamo twice went ahead in the first half and twice Inter replied.

Dynamo joined Barcelona and Kazan in first place with four points, one ahead of Inter, whose coach, Jose Mourinho, tried to downplay the result and his team's place in the standings. "I didn't expect us to have only three points after three games," he said. "Of course, I expected more, but the difference between a draw and a win is minimal. This group is very difficult but we already knew it would be."