Champions Sydney FC crashed to a 2-0 defeat at Allianz Stadium against Kashima Antlers while beaten grand finalists Melbourne Victory grabbed a 2-2 away draw versus Kawasaki Frontale.
We could see the midweek round as another illustration of the chasm in quality that exists between the two domestic competitions.
On the other hand Victory's draw at the home of the Japanese champions is not something we should sneer at and it somewhat compensates for the Sky Blues' second home debacle.
Rather than put a positive or negative spin on things, why can't we simply be realistic and examine things on face value with an open mind?
If we place too much emphasis on the second scenario and be influenced and blinded by Kevin Muscat's team's positive result we would be conveniently overlooking the fact that Victory, like their Sydney counterparts, were generally outplayed and outclassed by the Japanese opposition.
Both Kashima and Kawasaki, who are just two rounds into their domestic season, showed a level of skill, speed and movement that had Sydney and Melbourne struggling for most of the night.
Sydney were never allowed to get into their stride by the Antlers and were undone by a goal in each half due to sloppy - make that amateurish - defending from set pieces, Shoma Doi and Naomichi Ueda doing the damage.
They had two decent scoring chances in a brief period in the second half when they got their game going but they were both missed by the usually impeccable Adrian Mierzejewski.
Sydney coach Graham Arnold promised later that his side would learn from the defeat that casts serious doubt over the club's ability to survive the group stage. They are bottom on one point from three matches with two of their remaining three games away.
He lamented the two soft goals and the two missed scoring opportunities. But we have been making such excuses since we started competing in the Champions League 12 years ago and it makes you wonder if we are actually learning from our Asian liaison.
To their credit Victory gave a good amount of themselves in the first half and went into the break on level terms.
Brazilian Elsinho put Frontale in the lead with a well taken shot but Besart Berisha found the net soon after with a heavily deflected shot.
In the second half Victory continued to fight but they looked cumbersome and were exposed by the home team's swift and well orchestrated attacks.
And when it looked like a delightful team goal from Kyohei Noborizato would give Kawasaki an impressive and thoroughly deserved win, up popped Leroy George to slot home an injury-time penalty after substitute Christian Theoharous was upended.
The goal gave Victory their second point in the campaign and keeps them in the hunt for a spot in the knockout phase.
But if the truth be told the result flattered Victory.
And if some claim that this is a rather cynical appraisal of Victory's effort, they should remember that we would be screaming blue murder if it was the other way round.
Victory rode their luck but they will have to play much better if they are to reach the last 16.
The reverse matches take place next week.
