And after Bernardo Silva was correctly sent off, this was only going one way, wasn't it?

Yeah, it was, and I still can't work me head around the game, Adrian, if I'm brutally honest with you.

The way that City come out the traps was excellent.

It was what the game needed, but let's not forget they could've been a goal down in the first minute from Valverde when he got played through by Vinicius Jr., but there was so many clear-cut opportunities tonight, and we've already touched on four goals being scored offside.

But it was just end to end, and I, I was looking at Pep Guardiola in that first half.

Of course, he was absolutely seething from the red card.

I think he knew from that minute, the twenty-first minute when the red card was shown after the VAR, that this tie was over.

That isn't good enough.

Uh, they look fine, but what does the end of the season look like for them?

Well, before this game, Mark, and I've not quite worked it out yet, they were five points off the top six.

Now, you would say that that's a really good season, and I think when I've seen Fulham at times this season, they have been really good.

You know, they've lost games in the 90th minute.

You know, the Manchester United game springs to mind a couple of weeks ago.

So they're competing, and I think they've got some really talented players, and I, I really do like Marco Silva.

I think he's an excellent manager, and you can see the pride and the passion that he shows in that technical area on a weekly basis.

And Mickey Gray, what did you make of it all?

Is Adrian right to call him out?

[laughs] Uh, that was brilliant from Adrian, I have to say.

Um, if...

But look, I think the way that Adrian portrays it, um, he's certainly got points on every, on every angle that he touched on there.

Um, if, if you look at certain players, Ryan Ait-Nouri when he was at Wolves was able to play with a freedom.

You know, he's a, he's a wonderful left back who loves to get over the halfway line, loves to create opportunities.

I don't think he's quite given that freedom in a Manchester City shirt.

I mean, what do you make of his comments about refereeing decisions?

Over to the Stadium of Light, where John Dunn and Micky Gray watch Manchester City draw nil-nil with Sunderland.

Got to say, I've thoroughly enjoyed that game from start to finish.

There was chances for Sunderland.

It looked like they were gonna overhaul Man City, then City grew back into the game late on in the last 10, 15 minutes.

They had chance after chance through Josko Gvardiol.

It didn't quite fall to Erling Haaland at all in the game, apart from that one big opportunity he had in the game.

And as I'm speaking, John, Donna Rumba yet again is going across to the referee and the two officials.

Full credit to these players.

Um, how do you fancy your chances and what the, what's Sunderland feel like? What's the feeling going into this game against Newcastle?

Yeah, I mean, Kwaku, they've g- they've got a really good chance because they're playing in front of their home crowd.

Uh, and they've got a brilliant record at the Stadium of Light.

Um, they've done brilliant there this season.

Um, you're right about the form.

I was at the Man City game, and probably the first time this season they didn't perform.

They just never turned up and didn't play very well.

Mm

People will talk about the lack of touches that he had, but he had to show physical resilience in the face of a battering from the Real Madrid defenders tonight.

He, he did, Adrian, yeah, and he never got fazed.

Look, before he scored his goal, he'd had six touches before the penalty actually went into the back of the net.

I think he touched it 14 times on the night.

But other than that, you know, he just, he just kept his cool.

But I think all of the City players did.

Look, I, I have to say, I was a little bit disappointed in Real Madrid.

And I think some City fans were thinking, "Hang on a minute, we're not gonna do what we did last season and not even get to the round of 16." This is a big statement victory from Pep's side tonight.

How difficult could that be though for the manager, um, trying to balance that squad with so many of those players missing?

Well, it feels like a, a long time we've been talking about this and everybody was maybe concerned about the, uh, the amount of points that Sunderland would have had before actually the AFCON came up 'cause it's a longer, it's a longer tournament this season as well.

I think it's all December and January as well.

Certainly if y- if the players are successful and they go all the way in this competition, I know they're all not gonna do that.

I think you're right in saying seven, Ollie.

I think it, it...

there was a possible nine could have actually gone to the AFCON, and now that's up to the manager, Regis Lebrieu, to shuffle his pack, to have a look at his squad to say, "Well, okay, well, we're losing seven players.

Do you think either of those candidates would make a big difference to Leeds United, would be the right men if they are looking to stay in the Premier League?