Real Madrid’s stunning Champions League comeback against Man City down to sorcery, not substitutes

Far be it for me to criticise the great Greek philosopher Aristotle, but when he said ‘everything happens for a reason’ he was clearly talking out of his ancient backside.

To be fair to the father of realism, he was born in 384BC, which was several years before Denmark won Euro 92, Wigan lifted the FA Cup in 2013 or Leicester City romped to the Premier League title in 2016.

Still, if he had spent less time watching the History Channel, and more tuned into Sky Sports News, he would have most likely arrived at a different conclusion.

This week, yet again, defied logic as the football Gods gathered in the clouds above the Santiago Bernabeu and cast another one of their savage soccer spells. Witchcraft on the wings. Malediction on the midfield. Divination on the defence.

Human interference may have caused them to congregate, but I’m putting Real Madrid’s miraculous turnaround against Manchester City down to sorcery over substitutes.

It was almost like an ex-player’s agent had summoned a shaman to place a curse on City, but that would be ridiculous, right? Ya, ya, it would.

Truthfully, modern football at the highest level is almost entirely predictable, yet it still throws up moments that have us putting down the beer and reaching for the nearest amulet. However, leave the top flights, and you will find hoodoo and voodoo everywhere you look, which is why, this weekend, you need to look a little lower for your bewitching drama.

The race for the final two Championship play-off spots will be decided tomorrow. Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest are already there, but it’s two from four going into the last day, and there is not a chance in hell they will pass off without some form of intergalactic interference.

Luton Town in sixth are so