Uncertainty surrounds the last-16 in the Champions League, and not just because of an apparent mess that UEFA seemed to make with this morning's draw.
There is a lot of football still to be played in the two months between the draw and the actual games; Manchester City were ninth in the Premier League last season when they were paired with Borussia Monchengladbach, and ten points clear at the top when they kicked off in their first leg after a run of one draw and 18 consecutive wins in all competitions.
The state of the country and continent cannot be ignored either. At the end of October, thousands of City fans got on aeroplanes to Belgium and masks were unnecessary in Flanders as they enjoyed the hospitality of Bruges before heading back to Manchester without needing a Covid test to get back into the country.
City fans have already been deprived of one European trip since as German authorities decided their match with RB Leipzig must be played behind closed doors as a result of rising cases in the region. The UK has rapidly stepped up its own restrictions in recent weeks, meaning the prospects of stress-free travel to Villarreal at the end of February looks a lot less likely than it did only a few weeks ago.
One thing that is unlikely to change though is the supremacy of the English clubs.
Two of the last three Champions League winners have come from the Premier League, and both Liverpool and Chelsea beat domestic rivals in the final. It has been another strong showing this season, with three of four English clubs topping their groups and all four having favourable ties in the last-16.
For all their efforts in relegating Dortmund to the Europa League, Sporting should be no match for Pep Guardiola's side.
Liverpool and Chelsea should also be heavy favourites against Inter and Lille respectively, while if United have the most difficult draw against Atletico they also have two months to continue their stabilising under Ralf Rangnick.
It all points towards a familiar outcome for City and one they have struggled with under Guardiola: three of their five Champions League exits under the manager have come at the hands of Premier League teams, and the chances are they will have to face at least one if they are to go all the way this year.
If they can avoid elimination to an English club at the fourth time of asking, City know their chances will never have been better.
