Another achievement for the star player. Erling Haaland has become the fastest to achieve 50 Champions League goals, and his pace is unprecedented.

Haaland achieved this milestone in just 49 matches. Ruud van Nistelrooy reached it in 62, while Lionel Messi took 66. Others like Cristiano Ronaldo needed 91, and Thierry Henry required 103 games. Raul accomplished it in 97 matches. Haaland is clearly surpassing some legendary figures.

Phil Foden set up the opportunity with a delicate pass over the Napoli defense, and the Norwegian skillfully headed the ball into the far corner. The running header was much more challenging than it appeared.

‘It’s not easy [to become the record Champions League scorer]. He could play for 10 more years, and he maintains this progress, absolutely.’

The partnership between Haaland and Foden likely delighted Pep Guardiola, who was on edge during the early part of this competition. He was not only unsettled with the crowd but also with Manchester City’s struggle to capitalize against a resilient 10-man Napoli until later in the game.

The interactions and gestures towards the audience in the Colin Bell stand, situated behind the dugouts, should be noted for future European matches, as regular season ticket holders typically don’t occupy these seats.

Many attendees probably aimed to see Kevin De Bruyne one last time. He arrived discreetly, taking an unfamiliar route into the Etihad. The coach bypassed the crowds and entered through a side tunnel. Despite his long tenure, these areas of the stadium were likely new to him, but familiar faces awaited inside nonetheless.

American broadcaster CBS had become a little worried that Napoli’s arrival was going to be too late for Micah Richards to greet De Bruyne just before the dressing room. Eventually, they decided to cut the former right back’s live segment pitchside to wait for the handshake shot they so craved. As they waited, Richards feigned fear that the Belgian would ignore him. He didn’t, the moment did possess some genuine affection.

Antonio Conte did not lead his team in until just over an hour before kick-off, a whistle prompting a perpetual state of confusion as to whether Jeremy Doku was exceptionally dangerous or ludicrously wasteful, yet Richards was rewarded for sticking it out. Doku ended up scoring a magnificent second goal 25 minutes from time, dancing past three markers. After plenty of maddening moments, he ended up being the most productive man in sky blue aside from Foden. One day he’ll put in a normal performance.

Although the traffic around Manchester had become typically congested, arriving late must have been Conte’s plan because Napoli were in the Marriott hotel next to Piccadilly station a mile away, significantly closer than the De Bruyne family home around Wilmslow.

Ruben Dias playfully barged his former captain during the fair play handshakes, Haaland smirked as they crossed paths. The whole experience must have felt more than slightly weird, heighted further when all four stands broke into a rendition of The White Stripes, De Bruyne’s terrace chant. It had only been 122 days since he and his family waved goodbye at the end of last season. He rightly looked a bit sheepish about it all.

More so than on 26 minutes, in fairness. De Bruyne’s night ended prematurely. Understandably but prematurely all the same, when Napoli’s captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo hacked Haaland down just outside the box as the Norwegian raced onto Foden’s menacing pass. Referee Felix Zwayer bizarrely waved claims away before being sent to the monitor.

Somebody had to be sacrificed with the straight red and, despite Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund having recorded only two touches, the finest midfielder in the Premier League era saw his number flash up. Conte’s decision was clearly down to legs for rare breaks upfield from the two banks of five and De Bruyne appeared understanding.

This could have been even stranger had City planned for the 34-year-old’s exit more meticulously and had the statue commissioned, ready and waiting. De Bruyne is being immortalised outside, joining Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and David Silva of recent heroes, and likely part of the North Stand expansion. Were it already completed, De Bruyne featuring would have been akin to Sir James Anderson signing for Nottinghamshire and bowling from his own end at Old Trafford over the other side of town: all kinds of wrong.

A goalkeeper from over that way, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic – formerly of United’s academy and who might still be there were it not for work permit issues – repelled everything thrown his way. And when he didn’t, Matteo Palitano thwarted a goalbound Tijjani Reijnders effort instead. 

But these have been a decent few days for Guardiola after the resounding derby victory last weekend and his side did find a way.

‘I’m very pleased,’ said Guardiola. ‘We play a lot of minutes against 10. Italian teams are unbelievable (at defending). The resilience, the focus — I admire them so much.

‘It’s been a tough week and we have an incredibly tough challenge on Sunday but we are going there with a good feeling.’

Foden and Haaland combined wonderfully – that is a partnership City need to flourish throughout the season if they are to earn silverware – before Doku ended the best week of his career in England by confidently sliding beyond Milinkovic-Savic with the sort of authority with which we are not accustom.

Rodri had already been withdrawn by that point, given another hour on his comeback trail following an injury setback at the Club World Cup. That he started prompted surprise yet it points to how important starting this elongated group stage with victory really is for Guardiola. City played out a dull goalless draw with Inter this time last year and look what happened next.