There is no such thing as an 'easy game' in the Champions League. Winning the group in flawless fashion takes some doing – here's who has managed it.
No matter how many times Manchester City get drawn alongside Shakhtar Donetsk or one poor handful of minnows are drawn into a 'group of death', it's true that no game in the Champions League is an easy one.
That's not to say that we shouldn't expect the mammoth sides to pull off convincing wins – of course not – but when a team is fortunate enough to find themselves in Europe's elite competition, they'll do everything they can to cause an upset.
While trying not to sound too much like Pep Guardiola after managing a sickeningly easy victory, you've got to respect every side you face if you want to go far in the competition.
There are only 13 instances of teams going perfect in the group stages, which is a testament to how difficult a task it is. Two sides have joined this elite club in the last 24 hours, with Manchester City earning their membership card a day after Real Madrid pulled off the achievement for a third time.
So, grab the nostalgia pump and hook it straight to the veins – GOAL is on hand with those other flawless group stage runs.
Getty ImagesAC Milan (1992-93)
The first team to ever achieve the feat, and what a team it was.
Fabio Capello's charges were electric, seeing off a number of sides in the old format to set up a final with eventual winners Marseille. Let's also have some noise for Marco van Basten and his six tournament goals; incredible player.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesParis Saint-Germain (1994-95)
Paris Saint-Germain still haven't managed to win the competition, but they do have a place in this rather unique hall of fame.
George Weah would go on to win the Ballon d'Or in 1995 after starring in the Champions League, finishing as the competition's top scorer that season.
Getty ImagesSpartak Moscow (1995-96)
An unlikely candidate, Spartak are the perfect name for a rogue question in a pub quiz, and so are the sides they beat.
Spartak saw off Blackburn Rovers and Legia Warsaw early on, finishing up with 18 points from Group B. Unfortunately, all that hard work was undone immediately in the quarter-final when they lost 4-2 over two games to Nantes.
Getty ImagesBarcelona (2002-03)
Amazingly, it wasn't a Johan Cruyff or Pep Guardiola Barcelona side that put together a perfect group-stage campaign – it was actually Louis van Gaal's.
Before Van Gaal's reputation was dimmed by his spell at Manchester United and the rather bizarre press conferences that came with it, the Dutch coach was playing brilliant football with Barca, leading them to nine straight victories in the 2002/03 competition before being dumped out by eventual finalists Juventus.