As a Manchester City fan, I've become so accustomed to facing off with Real Madrid in the Champions League. Whether it was in the old Bernabeu or new, these clashes often deliver the most epic moments in Europe's elite competition.
From the last minute comeback led by Rodrygo in 2022 in the semi final, the breath-taking 3-3 thriller in 2024 and the Kylian Mbappe hat-trick during last year's play-off eliminator – I've been there for them all.
As I made my way to the ground last night, I felt cautiously optimistic. Los Blancos were missing key players and have underwhelmed largely so far this season.
That optimism waned when I saw the team sheet. Pep Guardiola is as brilliant as he is stubborn; the first leg called for still being in the game for the second. It called for sticking to what you know works best, for keeping the ship steady.
Attempting to go all out attack in an amphitheatre so reminiscent of European drama against the 15-time winners smacked of a mixture of arrogance and, unbelievably for a manager so decorated, naivety. An 'I know better' approach.
He certainly did not and he definitely didn't have any answers to a Madrid masterclass. For all the players that were missing for the home side, they still had an ace in their pack. Federico Valverde scored a masterful hat-trick – he might have made it look so easy, but Pep's tactics proved to be Alvaro Arbeloa's greatest assist of the night.
Guardiola not starting with his best XI was just as much of a head-scratcher. Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Nunes had all been worthy of a start. Nico O'Reilly, moved from his recent successful midfield exploits, shunted to left back. Abdukodir Khusanov, so quick and powerful at centre back, much less effective at right back. Savinho, a shocking reminder that City should've taken £75m from Spurs for him in the Summer. Not one player in blue boarded that flight back to Manchester with any glory – but that's on the manager who left them so vulnerable with his tactics.
What now? A 3-0 deficit to overcome or face being knocked out by Madrid for the third year in a row. But where does it leave City's season? Seven points behind Arsenal in the League, a League Cup final with the Gunners in a fortnight and an FA Cup quarter final against Liverpool.
It's up to the manager now to lift them after such a devastating blow. It remains to be seen if it'll be the second trophyless season on the bounce for City and, if it is, then what?
Emily Brobyn is regularly on BBC Radio Manchester – find all their Man City audio here
