Evening all, and eyes down for what should be yet another jazzer. City have run into form - it took longer than it ought to have done, but Pep Guardiola has worked out his best attacking combination - while Monaco know exactly what they're doing, and sport a variety of excellent young players. On top of that, both sides are committed to attack, so we're set.

Long goalkick, flick-on, and Mbappe is through! But he's moving away from goal, so forced to swivel into a shot, that flies just over the top of the near post while Caballero dreams of a better life.

Er, really? Really? REALLY! Aguero finds himself through on goal, Subasic slides in, tickles the ball, Aguero makes it his business to fall over his leg - on first viewing, it looked a penalty, I must say - but he ends up with a booking, to Guardiola's gross amusement. Oh, he's a-slapping his thighs and a a-wetting his pants, but the truth is I’ve now seen the incident five or six times and I’m still not sure what was what.

No.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Monaco (Falcao) As I was saying, what a player! Caballero tries to be clever with a clearance to the left, Silva wins the ball back and feeds Fabinho outside him; he swerves a belter of a cross into the middle, while Sagna hopes a centre-back will deal - no centre-back deals - and there's the maestro diving to head into the far corner!

I wonder how much better Monaco would be with some pace up front - Falcao is in better form than when he was at United and all that...

Monaco make space down the left and eventually Mendy sweeps in a wonderful cross for Sidibe, arriving over the other side. Fernandinho does just enough to shrug it away.

I wouldn't say that goal was coming, but City were starting to claim the ascendancy. Monaco need to hang in there, because there's plenty in the game for them going forward. As in attacking, rather than in the future, FAOD.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Monaco (Sterling) Brilliant from Sane, who immediately goes at Sidibe, veering infield and displaying luscious footwork in the process, allowing Silva to take over once he's crowded out. Silva then slips in the kind of pass he should've played earlier in the half, Sane lifting his right foot so that it arrives onto his left, whereupon he zips a low cross into the middle for Sterling to punch home. Lovely goal.

Sidibe pulls back Sane and is booked. That's two of the Monaco back-four watching their step...

Fernandinho turns up in the middle of midfield, forcing the ball wide to De Bruyne,who whips an instacross low into the middle; Aguero tries to run it into the far corner, but misses his kick! That was a great chance, even for a man who's gone six games without a goal.

An adult.

This is a really good game, though we've not really had any proper chances yet.

Monaco win another right-wing corner and again Toure is up, but instead of heading clear he flicks it on. As such, Glik is surprised when the ball arrives, so it plays him instead of him playing it; it drops just wide.

Monaco have serious gas and serious thrust. Mbappe senses Otamendi behind him as a goalkick arrives, waits for him to get too close, spins him, and sets off at inside-right. He then shimmies, Otamemdi slides in expecting something to block, there's nothing, and a fine square pass tees up Mendy, nashing forward from left-back. He shoots low and hard, Caballero doesn't hold, and City do well when Falcao strays offside.

In Leverkusen, Saul has given Atletico the lead.

Excellent interception from Sidibe, preventing De Bruyne's ball making its way across to Sane, and Monaco break, Silva holding off Sane, megging Toure - ! - and sliding a fine through-pass for Falcao. But he's not got the pace he once had, allowing Otamendi and Sagna to get back and crowd him out.

Monaco are pressing City to stop them playing out from the back - this is a very fast game, and City bustle down the other end, Silva taking a touch when he needed to play Sterling in first-time - as a result, he breaks the line, but by the time the ball arrives, is offside.

Bernardo Silva causes aggravation down the right and clipping back a cross that Otamendi can't clear properly. Eventually, the ball ends up with Sidibe, just outside the box, far right, and he drags a shot wide.

Monaco are nails on the break, and here they come, Mbappe seizing on a misplaced pass to carry the ball 40 yards, cutting into the box and looking to find an angle from which to shoot with his right foot. But Fernandinho does just enough to crowd him out, blocking the ball clear.

Glik clotheslines Sane and is booked; he'll miss the return leg.