Nolito passed the ball to Kevin De Bruyne. De Bruyne gave it back, delightfully. It was training-ground stuff, now. Nolito stepped round goalkeeper Florin Nita and tapped the ball into the net for Manchester City's third.
More than £100million of talent left at home, and they are unlikely to have it any easier all season. One began to wonder who else could have had a few days off without it affecting the scoreline. The defence? The goalkeeper? Maybe Pep Guardiola.
It is impossible to view this as City becoming accustomed to Guardiola's way of thinking, because they won't play too many more ordinary opponents this season, even in the domestic cups.