We owe Silva a big thank you! Howler reminded us football is a game for mortals

Not because they were queuing in a bus lane waiting for the morning petrol delivery, but because Parc De Princes was sloshing around in so much cash and bitcoin, they simply couldn't see the football.

These two clubs get to do their business in a way pretty much the rest of the game can only dream of. But as a result, they sent out two teams, absolutely bursting with talent, who delivered like a much-needed tanker full of unleaded.

However, that wasn't what made the game special for me. Enter Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva.

Because although the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling were constant reminders of why our game is beautiful, Silva reminded us it's also pretty much just a bunch of blokes in shorts running around in the dirt until a man with a whistle makes them stop.

With Man City chasing an early goal, De Bruyne used the outside of his right wand to lift the ball towards Sterling, who Elon Musk-like, defied gravity to get his header away, only to see it fly past Gianluigi Donnarumma, bounce back off the bar and keeper, and land softly at the feet of City's No. 20.

At which point, we went from midweek in the Champions League, to Sunday morning over Hackney Marshes. And Bernardo became Bernie. From just a few feet, City's Portuguese midfielder created his own version of the Crossbar Challenge, and instantly became its undisputed champion.

He spooned the ball away from the vast expanse of an empty net, and plonked it onto the woodwork. If someone had filmed it on their phone over the local park, it would still be going viral now.

There's crazy money knocking about in football. And yes, it's almost unbelievable the amount some players earn to kick a ball around. But at the final whistle, that's really what it is. And Bernie was the man to remind us. So thank you Senhor Silva. Comedy gold.