There was beauty in both of the goals that adorned this absorbing game but that Manchester City will go back to the Etihad Stadium next week on terms with Real Madrid is down to the equally important if rather more prosaic attributes of teamwork and togetherness.
Pep Guardiola’s team were still losing this game as the clock ticked towards 70 minutes. Real Madrid, starved of possession and territory by City at the start of both halves, were coming strong once again.
Karim Benzema’s runs in and behind the City central defenders were being found once more by the Real midfield.