Phil Foden's hat trick stole the headlines, but Allan's first Champions League start may prove just as significant for Manchester City.
City breezed past AEK Athens 5-1 on a night when Enzo Maresca's squad depth was on full display. Foden, a vital player for Maresca's side, delivered the goals. Yet the performance of a Brazilian winger operating out of position offered a glimpse of something different.
Allan, typically a right winger, was handed a start on the left by Maresca. The switch did not inhibit him. He completed 4/5 successful dribbles and won 7/12 duels, numbers that suggest a player capable of adding a different dynamic to City's attack.
Allan's contribution in the build-up
The game was still alive at 2-1 when Allan received an Enzo Fernandez pass in the penalty area in the 57th minute. He helped set up Rayan Cherki's goal, Cherki producing a moment of magic to beat Alberto Brignoli and restore City's two-goal cushion. That assist snuffed out any hope of an AEK Athens comeback.
It was Allan's first start in the UEFA Champions League, and he made quite the impression. The Brazilian showed last night, and against Norwich City, that he can add a different dynamic to Manchester City's attack.
With Antoine Semenyo out for a sustained period due to a knee injury, Maresca may need to rely on that dynamism more often. On this evidence, Allan is ready to provide it.