In twenty years time in some nostalgia filled Manchester pub, City fans could easily remember this weekend as the defining moment of a triumphant campaign.
After European failure was followed by defeat to Chelsea the wheels of momentum were threatening to unravel, but in a slap in the face for any critic of the top flight they responded with a thrilling win over a resilient Arsenal.
'Silva' became gold at the Etihad and as with Messi last week the midfield maestro won the battle of the League’s on-form players, and was at the heart of a fine team effort.
For Arsenal the match did illustrate improvement but in a tough week a European trip to the San Siro will offer scant festive cheer.
Yet AC Milan have come unstuck against English opposition three years in a row, and in some ways Chelsea have the tougher Italian assignment.
Chelsea and Napoli are two of just three teams to have beaten City this season, and while Chelsea’s inconsistent domestic form has been better than the Italians, Cavani and co will still provide a stern test.
There is a chance that Man Utd may be offered a lifeline back into the competition (and would that not just be typical?) but they are dependent on rules, finance and Swiss incompetence.
Whatever happens Barcelona remain favourites for the title, and after another World Championship win, are one of the greatest ever club teams.
“Greatness” is an over-hyped concept in sport, and in the recent annals of English Rugby, it is an adjective with which retiree Jonny Wilkinson is often associated.
It is easy to get carried away, and Jonny was not the greatest player ever, with Kiwi nemesis Dan Carter perhaps edging him to that accolade.
Yet he was the flagship of a new professional age, one who abandoned the temptations of the high life for good old fashioned hard work.
An old-school exponent on the pitch if not off it, who took kicking and tackling to unforeseen heights and (lest we forget) slotted a certain drop goal in 2003 which defined a new generation of British sport. Not the greatest but one of the greats of our age.
There has been much recent talk of England’s club football woes, but in Rugby it is much worse, and Wilkinson’s new contract with Toulon is indicative of the ever growing French superiority.
There could easily be just one English club in the Heineken Cup quarters, and after a breathtaking win in Toulouse, Harlequins are the exception to the rule. After 2009’s Bloodgate scandal, they are providing the RFU with the perfect model of how to respond to adversity.
British Boxing and Golf have endured weeks of contrasting fortunes.
Andre Ward has been hailed as the future of the ring after a fine win and a second Sunday morning of British misery.
But after Amir Khan failed in his appeal to overturn...well what exactly? it was refreshing to see Froch concede his loss and plan to respond in the gym and not in the courtroom. A Wilkinson-esque reaction.
It was another triumphant week in an unprecedented year for our Golfers, as both Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood secured victories. After an opening round 60, Westwood’s win in Thailand will push him above Rory McIlroy in the world rankings, as Britain end 2011 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Golf is not an Olympic sport quite yet, but in disciplines scheduled for 2012 Team GBs Sailing and Equestrian teams enjoyed more success, with Dressage fast becoming another event with serious gold-medal aspirations.
The seasonal Darts extravaganza is just beginning at Ally Pally but Christmas this year seems barer in the absence of Ashes cricket. Without England other countries must provide the festive highlights.
Shane Warne may have stuttered on his Twenty20 return, but Australia are busy blooding some decent new youngsters, while South African have unleashed a real gem in the brilliantly named Vernon Philander.
No Christmas cricket but we have had no shortage of Christmas spats. Ballotelli versus Richards and now the revelation that Sir Alex and Roy Keane actually never got on. We might be lacking scandal in this post Leveson age, but there will never be a shortage of football histrionics...
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