It was at this stage of the season nearly 25 years ago that the idea Manchester United could win an unprecedented Treble began to take hold. The same aura, the same sense of destiny, is hovering around Manchester City now as they surge inexorably onwards towards the semi-finals and the finals and the showdowns that are the elixir of all great sides.
Yes, City took a three-goal advantage into the second leg of this Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich but the way they survived the battalion of passions that swirled around the magnificent Allianz Arena and protected their lead to run out 4-1 winners on aggregate provided another example of the character that courses through them.