Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City would need two exceptional games to overcome Real Madrid.
City did produce an incredible performance, it was a breathtaking seven-goal European classic at the Etihad and yet this tie is far from over.
Guardiola must be furious that, having played some sublime football, they shot themselves in the foot three times by allowing Real Madrid back into the contest even though the Spanish giants were outclassed for so much of the game.
And when you consider the 13-time European champions have come back from the brink against Paris Saint Germain and Chelsea already this season, only a fool would write them and Karim Benzema off again.
The real treat is that we get at least 90 minutes more of this at the Bernabeu next Wednesday to decide who will go forward into next month’s final in Paris.
Real Madrid are the great survivors, they refused to give up even when they were chasing shadows because City were dazzling at times, their movement made them untouchable and unplayable in equal measure.
City have an incredible opportunity to win their first European Cup because Kevin De Bruyne looks in magnificent form, surely the best midfielder in Europe.
De Bruyne scored, provided an assist while Gabriel Jesus, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were also on target.
But every time you thought Real Madrid were finished, back they came and Benzema scored twice, the second a cheeky Panenka penalty which just summed up his wonderful skill and talent. Benzema has now scored 41 goals in 41 games this season.
It was an incredible contest, Guardiola was booked on the touchline after losing his temper while Carlo Ancelotti kept his Italian cool despite the frantic goings-on.
City are awesome going forward, but they are creaking at the back with so many injuries and John Stones added to the casualty list as he limped off and was replaced by Fernandinho who gave everything, provided an assist but was undone defensively.
Guardiola will just have to strap himself in next week, try to survive if it is a repeat of this rollercoaster. City looked brilliant early on, they were ahead after just 90 seconds when Riyad Mahrez cut in from the right, delivered a superb cross and De Bruyne headed home.
It was 2-0 soon after and City were in dreamland. De Bruyne turned provider, his cross picking out Jesus who slotted home with the coolest of finishes. Incredibly, it was the first time Real Madrid have ever conceded two goals in the first 11 minutes of a Champions League game.
You thought City would run away with it. But Madrid hauled themselves back. Ferland Mendy put over a cross from the left, Benzema ghosted into the box and hooked a shot just inside City keeper Ederson’s far post.
Stones went off, Fernandinho filled in. Then City, having seen Mahrez hit the post, got a third after 53 minutes when Fernandinho charged down the right and his cross was headed in by Foden.
Then you saw the other side of Fernandinho who is a midfielder by trade and is a week short of his 37th birthday. What a pro. But he was nutmegged and lacked the legs to stop Vinicius Junior who charged from the halfway line before slotting past Ederson into the far corner. It was 3-2.
City re-established their two-goal advantage after 74 minutes. De Bruyne was fouled on the edge of the box, Romanian referee István Kovács played the advantage brilliantly and Bernardo fired into the top corner. Surely it was all over.
But back came Madrid for one last time in this crazy topsy turvy game. Aymeric Laporte led with his arm, conceded a penalty for handball and, cool as you like, Benzema chipped down the middle to keep the tie very much in the balance.
