This might prove to be the night that the Manchester City fans look back at time and again as the turning point, the game which saw their club turn from European pretenders to powerhouses. It is difficult not to think that after the kind of performance that City produced, against, arguably, the best club side in the world.
Facing Barcelona twice in two weeks is a nightmare for any side, even more so when the first match saw Lionel Messi and co. turn on the style, and then some. In this Champions League encounter, though, it was City's turn to show their own style, as the Premier League side produced their best ever performance on the European stage.
This is definitely becoming Pep Guardiola's team with every passing match. Having seen his side get brushed aside by Barcelona at the Camp Nou, City came into this match with a point to prove, and prove it they did, scoring three goals of their own to complete a 3-1 win.
Lionel Messi gave Barcelona the lead in the 21st minute, but from there, it would be City who would show more ruthlessness in front of goal, with Ilkay Gundogan, twice, and Kevin De Bruyne getting their names on the scoresheets to fashion a brilliant win, one that will give the City fans and their owners more belief that there is something special brewing under the most coveted manager in the world.
"We are three or four months into playing a different way," Guardiola said. "We try and now we won against the best team.
"For the future generations they are going to realise: wow, these guys are able to beat the best team.
"It is the same when the group led by Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany won the Premier League twice, so the players who come now know they have to do that. You need 10 years, 15, 20 to stay there. We are going to reduce that time to leave nights for the Manchester City fans like (the one against Barcelona)."
