London, Jan. 30 -- Manchester City's Champions League campaign could have gone the same way as the merchandise stand outside Etihad Stadium that went up in flames before kick-off - but
a fightback on the pitch meant they scraped into the play-offs.
Even City manager Pep Guardiola sensed the bad omens, saying: "When I saw the fire before the game I thought 'the journalists have their headlines already'."
Thankfully, no-one was hurt in that pre-match drama, while City were also able to finally emerge unscathed from a night of tension and nerves, displaying more of the fragility that has characterised their season, the BBC reported.
It's Real Madrid or Bayern Munich next - a scenario that might send shudders down the spine of the most arde...