Manchester City had eclipsed Manchester United in virtually all areas over the previous decade.
Their local rivals may have fallen from grace but one feat remained firmly within their grasp. Until now.
Old Trafford held the distinction of the Champions League’s longest unbeaten run which City recently equalled.
But Pep Guardiola’s side are now ahead of the Red Devils after claiming a 26th continental outing with Wednesday’s five-goal thrashing of Sparta Prague.
United’s feat had stood for over 15 years after they went undefeated between September 2007 and May 2009.
Their “noisy neighbours”, however, were never likely to let history stand in their way.