There was some talk after Manchester City’s win against Newcastle United last Saturday that City’s players had been inspired, freed from their shackles and generally reinvigorated by the club’s recent legal victory in a tribunal hearing over certain time-specific aspects of financial regulation.
As early as the 20th minute it was startling Madrid were still only 1-0 up as those white shapes romped around the empty spaces, the crowd gushing idly over its favourites, clapping Raúl Asencio like proud parents as he completed a back pass.
The third thing relates to Guardiola himself, who once again delivered his public response like a man strapped to a wheel of pain, unable to process defeat, failure or elements beyond his reach.
Paris Saint-Germain tore City apart playing like a classic Pep team.
His 2011 Barcelona team are still the greatest of the century, a total re-gear of what it meant and felt and looked like to dominate elite football.
