Crisis averted then for Manchester City. Or perhaps that should read crisis postponed? The champions of England escaped the league phase and through a certain prism, there is a case to be made that Pep Guardiola's side are well into the post-nadir period of their season.

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City's tough schedule "is what it is" after drawing Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout phase play-off round. City will face the La Liga giants in the Champions league for a fourth year in a row as finishing 22nd in the newly revamped League Phase meant the only other potential opponent was Bayern Munich.