Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted their clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League will be “extremely difficult.” The two European heavyweights have been paired together in the knockout play-offs on Friday.

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.