Liverpool looming Pep Guardiola would surely not countenance talk that Liverpool is the bigger game this week because of the need to secure Champions League qualification.
Manchester City can book their place in the last-16 by defeating a side they walloped 5-0 last week, and their manager treats this as the first milestone of the season.
However, given they are clearly better than their Danish opponents they should also be able to use the European match to prepare for what will have been the biggest fixture circled in their calendar this season: a trip to Anfield.
The form of the two teams gives the Blues a real possibility of building an unreachable lead on Sunday after just a quarter of the season - something unthinkable after the Community Shield.