That yellow could have easily become a red

After being booked early on in the game against Besiktas, flashbacks to Inter Milan’s Champions League tie when Balotelli saw red under Jose Mourinho went through most people’s heads.

Despite their best efforts – and they did try rather hard – Besiktas could not con the forward into losing his temper and getting himself in the book a second time. He was kicked, pushed about and fouled over and over again – but kept his head.

That might not seem significant but when you look back on his earlier career, the prime example being the game against Kazan you can see how far he has come.