Manchester City could equal a club record that has stood for 103 years when they welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
The reigning kings of Europe will host the 14-time winners of the competition in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, with the tie finely poised after an instant classic between the two sides at the Bernabeu last Tuesday.
Bernardo Silva gave Man City a second-minute lead with a smartly-taken free kick in the Spanish capital, only for Madrid to turn the game on its head before the quarter-of-an-hour mark with two quickfire goals of their own.
Pep Guardiola's men scored twice in the space of five minutes in the second half - both stunning strikes from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol respectively - to regain the lead, before Federico Valverde threw his own contender for goal of the game into the mix 11 minutes from time.
The topsy-turvy affair eventually ended 3-3, giving Man City the slight edge at the halfway stage as they boast home advantage for the second leg.
© Reuters
Home history beckons for Man City at fortress Etihad
While Real Madrid's ability to produce results in Europe can never be underestimated, Carlo Ancelotti's side would need to do something no team has done in a long time if they are to progress into the semi-finals.
The importance of having the home advantage in the second leg of a Champions League tie can sometimes be overstated, but Man City's imperious record in front of their own fans suggests that they should be made firm favourites to finish the job in Manchester on Wednesday.
Saturday's dominant 5-1 victory over Luton Town in the Premier League not only ensured that Guardiola's side ended a day top of the table for the first time since November, it also extended their unbeaten run at home to 41 matches in all competitions.
Man City have won 35 of those 41 games, drawing the other six, with their most recent loss at the Etihad dating all the way back to November 2022, when Brentford emerged 2-1 winners in the Premier League.
Should the Champions League holders also avoid defeat against Real Madrid on Wednesday then they would equal their all-time club record unbeaten run at home - a 42-match streak that was set between December 1919 and November 1921.
Man City have been incredibly dominant on their home turf throughout most of Guardiola's reign and have broken numerous records along the way, but they have never managed to reach that century-old mark before now.
© Reuters
Man City still chasing unprecedented double-treble
Guardiola's side have been subject to more criticism this season than during most of his years in charge of the club, and in the league they certainly have fallen slightly below their incredibly high standards from previous campaigns at times this term.
However, they remain on course to complete a truly remarkable double-treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League - a feat never before achieved in football.
Man City became only the second English team to win that particular trio of trophies last season - emulating Manchester United's class of 1998-99 - and if they manage to do that again for a second year in a row, it would have to go down as one of the most impressive achievements in football history.
Saturday's win over Luton took the defending champions to the top of the Premier League table, with Arsenal and Liverpool not in action until Sunday, keeping them well in the mix to become the first team in English football history to win four top-flight titles on the bounce.
Man City are also clear favourites to win the FA Cup this season ahead of their semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley next weekend, with a final against either Coventry City or Manchester United awaiting them if they are victorious.
Guardiola's men are regarded as front-runners for the Champions League too, and that position would only be strengthened with a win over Madrid in the quarters.
Barney Corkhill
