As a tune-up for Real Madrid on Wednesday this victory that takes Manchester City top, at least until Arsenal and Liverpool play on Sunday, became better and better as the game aged.
When Jérémy Doku’s jink past Fred Onyedinma caused the right wing-back to fell him in the area and claim a penalty, Manchester City were 2-0 ahead with 15 minutes left. Up stepped Erling Haaland to power the spot-kick in and the Norwegian, anonymous in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg 3-3 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu, had a confidence booster for the return.
