Stoppable. Touchable. And, evidently, beatable.
Now, thanks to Jose Mourinho and Chelsea, City's juggernaut has been well and truly derailed.
Now Manuel Pellegrini's men appear mortal, unpicked and unlocked by tactical genius.
Now we have a genuine three-cornered title race. And we know who is the most recent proven course and distance winner.
Last night, Chelsea not only did what nobody other than Bayern Munich have done all season, but what has been beyond the entire Premier League for more than three years.
Not since Birmingham escaped with a goalless draw in November 2010 had City not scored at The Etihad. They had won all 15 domestic games this term.
But badly missing Fernandinho as well as Sergio Aguero, City were taught a painful lesson, brought home by Branislav Ivanovic's first half thumper, their remorseless run coming to a crashing end.
It could have been more, too, Samuel Eto'o, Nemanja Matic and Gary Cahill all hitting the frame of the goal.
And while City had moments, none of them ever had the same conviction as Chelsea's attacking forays, John Terry peerless at the back for the Blues.
The woodwork saved Hart again when Cahill headed Willian's corner against the post, the keeper relieved.
And, finally, City found their second wind. Zabaleta teed up Dzeko to mis-hit, Jovetic's follow up cleared by Cahill, before Cech turned Silva's free-kick over the top.
Then Silva, coming in late to meet Kolarov's low cross, steered wide, the howls of disapproval echoing round the Etihad.
Not enough, City lacking the intricacy required, Chelsea visibly growing.
Now we know, if we didn't before, that all Mourinho's pre-game talk was make-believe. It was his evening in every sense.
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