The Etihad Stadium looked like a spaceship that had landed in Manchester.
Michael Sterling stood on the touchline. He looked at the scoreboard.
MANCHESTER CITY vs BARNSLEY
This was the first game after the disaster at Brighton. The first game after the world had laughed at the seagull incident. And the first game since the FA took eight points away.
On the other side of the pitch, Pep Guardiola was drinking water. He looked worried. Maybe he knew that a wounded animal was dangerous.
Or maybe he just saw Diego Nunez staring at Erling Haaland.
Diego was standing in the tunnel. He was looking at the giant Norwegian striker.
"You are big," Diego said to Haaland.
Haaland looked down. He smiled. "I am big."
"I eat big things for breakfast," Diego grunted. "I am the Bull."
"I am the Viking," Haaland replied.
"Good," Diego cracked his knuckles. "We will see who breaks first."
KICKOFF
The game was not a tactical battle. It was a street fight disguised as football.
