There are occasionally 0-0 draws which feel like decent results at the time, but in retrospect become a source of regret.
In Jose Mourinho's second game in charge back at Chelsea, he selected an ultra-defensive team that ground out a goalless draw at David Moyes' Manchester United. It was hailed as a creditable point, but a month later West Brom won at Old Trafford, then Everton did, and then Newcastle did, and suddenly Mourinho looked pretty foolish for not going for the jugular against a ropey United team, especially as Chelsea only missed out on the title by four points that season.
Back in November, Spurs were not exactly cagey in drawing 0-0 with Mourinho's Chelsea but they didn't come flying at them looking for a winner either, still respecting a team that had won the Premier League title only six months earlier. Chelsea lost their next match at home to Bournemouth, and Tottenham might be thinking now that those were two extra points they really could have claimed if they had been more proactive.
Which brings us to last night at the Etihad. Manchester City were up against a Real Madrid side without Cristiano Ronaldo and for the second half Karim Benzema, and in the first 45 minutes especially they looked uncertain of how to play without the talismanic Portuguese striker.
City played conservatively and were content to take the 0-0, which is understandable given the way they have capitulated in European knockout ties previously, but the stats suggest they may regret not pushing harder for the win when they had the chance.
First of all, of the 29 teams to draw a first leg at home 0-0 in the Champions League, only nine have progressed, which is a modest 31%.
Secondly, there is the daunting prospect of Ronaldo returning for Real. A quick look at how the team gets on with and without him suggests Zinedine Zidane's team are more potent, harder to score against, and more likely to win with Ronaldo in the team.
Ronaldo also has a typically explosive record in matches when he has returned from an absence, and assuming he is rested for Saturday's match against Real Sociedad, means City can expect a big reaction from the forward on next Wednesday. In his last 10 'comeback' matches, Ronaldo has 11 goals and five assists.
Real also have a formidable record at home in Europe this season, which reads: Played 5, won 5, scored , conceded 0.
City are still very much in the tie, but could well regret not going for their opponents when they had the chance.
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