In the background was their looming capture of a fifth Premier League title in six seasons, along with the FA Cup final against Manchester United. But it really was in the background.

This is the competition that everybody at the club has craved, from the ownership down and – at kick-off time – Madrid had felt like the acid test, the team loaded with all that savvy, the one which had reached five of the previous nine Champions League finals. But City knew what they had to do – impose themselves from the first whistle. It was extraordinary how they did so.

Guardiola’s team were a blur of sky blue, bringing the press, their movements and inter-play sharp. Madrid reeled; sinking into two deep banks.

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City were winning every duel; Madrid looked shell-shocked. 

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When Silva’s first went in, Carlo Ancelotti could be seen in conversation with Vinícius, eyebrow arched even higher than normal. When the second went in, the manager drummed his fingers on his lips. He looked nervous, incredulous.

Guardiola lived every moment, blowing kisses at one point to Grealish…😂

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Haaland was denied yet again by Courtois, the goalkeeper diverting the ball up and onto the crossbar after a one-on-one, but it did not matter for City. Can anybody stop them?

 

Inter Milan will not.