'Vuela Atleti' - fly Atleti - read the pitch-long banner, accompanied by a snarling pilot. Anthony Elanga clipped their wings.
Even from a lofty vantage point where they might have found birds' nests, Mancunian voices reverberated around the Wanda Metropolitano bowl to the sound of Rhythm Is A Dancer.
On this occasion, Elanga lived up to his lyrics as United's saviour. His slick first-time finish past Jan Oblak belied his 19 years and has given United an unlikely advantage in a tie many of their players failed to show up for.
