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.

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

First flash of City, Stones into Aguerom laid back for Toure, knocked across for Silva. And with Sane haring past outside him, the through pass is on - get at right and yerman's in - but unusually, Silva overcooks it and the shooting opportunity goes.

Silva floats down the right and feeds Sidibe, who crosses into Fernandinho's shins; corner. Toure heads it away, but Monaco keep up the pressure before Lemar pulls a shot wide from just outside the box.

Half of Monaco's fans are wearing red and half white. It's dead intimidating, I can tell you.

Monaco win a corner and have an overload at the back post, but the ball just misses them, goes out for a throw, and they waste it. De Bruyne then motors clear down the right, checks, and prods a decent pass inside for Toure, whose first-time pass finds Sterling in space in the box. He's promptly flagged offside, and is less than gruntled with the decision, though Subasic saved his shot.

"Away goals are so important" - more news as I get it.

apparently Monaco are "dark horses" - rather like Belgium in that regard.

And off we go!

The music. The players grasp hands.

Er, but who cares?

But he's not hard.

The players are tunnelled; David Silva is going to lead City out.

Tangentially, some chancer wrote this about whether Yaya Toure can do it in Europe.

Thing I'm looking forward to: seeing if Fabinho and Bakayoko can make an impression against Silva and De Bruyne.

Guardiola goes on to say that Monaco's wingers come inside, allowing Mendy and Sidibe to press on from full-backs. He also mentions Monaco's pace up front, and really, it's hard to see what his defence might do about it if they can get enough of the ball.

"Do you think Fernandinho can do a job for you in the defence?"

"Yes."

More news as I get it.

But who cares about any of that football nonsense when there's amazing stuff like this in which to lose yourself?

So what of Sergio Aguero? It's pretty hard to see him at City next season - Guardiola looked less than a fan even before Gabriel arrived, and now that he has, it's clear who the first choice is. A player of Aguero's class and status is not having that.