The way some Real Madrid players were talking after their Champions League first leg, you could be forgiven for thinking they didn't have a game this weekend.
They do of course, at home to Getafe on Saturday night, but the inference was clear: where Manchester City cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in the Premier League, Real can afford to focus solely on Wednesday's big European showdown at the Etihad. In a match that will be decided by small margins, that could make a difference.
However, City have recent experience of being up against this. The second Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League in March, it was widely thought to be a boost to their title hopes against a Blues side that had to play every three days.
