Manchester City recorded a thumping 5-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Sporting CP last night, breaking a record in the process.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling mean City are the first team in the history of the competition to win five consecutive knockout games away from home.
Of course, that achievement carries a slight asterisk given the circumstances surrounding some of those games.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions last season, away wins at Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain were played in the absence of famously vociferous home supporters, while the victory against Borussia Monchengladbach came at a neutral venue.
Those trips could well have been tougher had a hostile home crowd been present, something that has seemingly affected City in the Champions League in years past.
The 3-0 humiliation against Liverpool at Anfield in 2018 helped give root to the idea that Pep Guardiola's side don't like it when a home crowd gets up and has a go. However, the 5-0 demolition of Sporting on Tuesday went some way to dispelling that myth.
The Lisbon crowd set their stall out from the off, performing a spine-tingling rendition of the club's anthem and holding their scarfs aloft to create a sea of green and white. They were clearly up for it and their team fed off that energy in the opening stages as Sporting attacked City.
Unfortunately for Sporting they got a little too giddy, with City ruthlessly exploiting the spaces left by attack-minded opponents to race into a 4-0 lead by half-time.
As well as doing their best to inspire their team, the Sporting fans made the atmosphere as uncomfortable for City as they possibly could.
Every touch of Ederson, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo was booed and whistled, as the quartet all harbour connections to Sporting's fierce cross-town rivals Benfica.
The hostile reception had little effect though, particularly for Bernardo. The Portugal star scored a stunning half-volley to put City 2-0 up, before sweeping home a second just before the interval to put the result beyond any doubt. After picking the hosts apart, Bernardo left the field to a chorus of boos and jeers. It looked like he absolutely loved it.
Special scenes followed the final whistle, as a sold-out Estadio Jose Alvalade gave a standing ovation for their battered team, defiantly singing and applauding as the players left the pitch.
The atmosphere was arguably the best that City have encountered at home or abroad this season, but in a way it actually helped them. Of all the wins in their Champions League away streak, this was the most destructive performance of the lot.
By putting Sporting to the sword in the face of intimidation, City showed that they can actually harness a hostile crowd and make it work for them. Despite the claims of some critics, Guardiola's side are by no means a 'lockdown team' when it comes to Europe's top competition.
Perhaps the story of the night is that a small contingent of Benfica fans were present in the ground, cheering the City goals as they flew in.
They and the 2,500 travelling City supporters will no doubt have given the Blues a boost, but how much they needed it is open for debate. Unlike some City teams of the past, this one does not wilt under intense scrutiny.
Do you think that City have proved the doubters wrong? Follow our City Is Ours writer Alex Brotherton on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
