Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Manchester City was the biggest defeat Pep Guardiola has suffered in the Champions League this season. Most of the talk heading into last night's game was about how Los Blancos' high-profile absences will ultimately prove costly.
Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Alvaro Carreras were sidelined for the encounter with City. Guardiola didn't have any real injury problems to deal with, mostly a fully fit squad for the battle.
Guardiola's players weren't up for the fight, and Madrid surged to victory thanks to Federico Valverde's remarkable first-half hat-trick. Every time Los Blancos broke forward, they looked like scoring, and the usual difficulties that come with playing against the Cityzens were non-existent.
The end for Guardiola at City?
Madrid took one giant leap towards the quarter-finals thanks to the emphatic victory. But there's more to the story than just an aggregate lead in Europe's elite club competition's Round of 16.
Guardiola's future is uncertain and there is growing talk of the Spaniard leaving his role as City boss in the summer. He has been in charge since July 2016 and become their most successful manager.
Last season was his worst in management as his Sky Blues crashed out of the title picture and the Champions League. A play-off exit came at the hands of Madrid who are a thorn in the Spaniard's side.
Last night's win means Guardiola is the coach with the most defeats against Los Merengues in the competition's history. The former Barcelona boss constantly breaks records but this is one he'll be regretting.
Should Madrid indeed knock City out of the tournament it will only further cast doubts over the Spaniard's future. It might have been the catalyst for both the coach and his club to decide to part ways and head in a new direction.
Madrid could end Guardiola's reign
Guardiola will have been dreaming of ending his Etihad reign with another European title. The only one he has to show in a decade with the club came back in 2023 as part of a treble.
There is a chance that the 55-year-old ends his legendary spell without the Premier League title. His side trail Arsenal in the title race, sitting seven points behind with nine games left.
Madrid will love nothing more than to get one over the former Barca boss and end his City tenure by preventing him from European glory. Alvaro Arbeloa is halfway there and might even be able to call upon Mbappe come next Tuesday.