The final whistle was celebrated with a rasp of relief, hugs and handshakes, an exhausted but elated Jude Bellingham sinking to the turf, a stirring curtain call in front of the Yellow Wall. It meant something to Borussia Dortmund, at least. They qualified for the last 16 with a performance of maturity and ambition, one that might even – with a little more poise and penetration in the final third – have ended with all three points.
That their opponents were largely going through the motions was of only the barest relevance. Of course Manchester City came to win. It’s just that if they had really needed to, you sensed they would probably have found a way.
