Riyad Mahrez reaffirmed his quality in the biggest games by netting twice in Manchester City's 4-1 victory over Manchester United on Sunday, while Nigeria's Taiwo Awoniyi testing week got even worse.
One of the accusations oft levelled at Mahrez during his early years at Manchester City, after his protracted £60 million move from Leicester City, was that the playmaker adorned or decorated games without truly deciding them.
He was irrepressible on Sunday, however, with only Kevin De Bruyne's equally inspired display -- and brace -- taking some of the attention away from the North African.
Mahrez had netted just once in 15 previous matches against Manchester United, and never in 11 Premier League games against the Red Devils, but he made it 3-1 with a sensational half-volley after a corner from De Bruyne in the 68th minute -- heaping further woe on hapless Harry Maguire -- to take the game firmly beyond the embattled Red Devils.
He added a second goal in stoppage-time after being fed by Ilkay Gundogan, staying level with the United defenders -- confirmed by VAR check -- before sending the ball beyond David de Gea.
The Spain stopper had prevented Mahrez from opening his account during a glittering first half, saving sharply after the from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winner had cut inside from the right flank.
Mahrez had two further chances late on, and he could feasibly have bagged a hat-trick against the 20-time English champions -- as fellow North African Mohamed Salah had done earlier in the season against the Red Devils.
"The first half was pretty good, [and in the] second half, we were more patient and controlled," Mahrez told City's official website. "[Maguire] touched [the first goal], but you have to hit the target, just like our physio says, you have to hit the target to get the goal.
"The second one, I tried to hit it high because I know De Gea is good at saving the ball low. I hit it high and it hit his face and went in - I'll take them both."
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Intriguingly, such is Mahrez's consistency in front of goal this season that only Salah -- across all competitions -- has scored more often among Premier League players. More performances like Sunday's could see Mahrez (21 goals this season) draw level with the Liverpool superstar (27).
Mahrez, 31, appears to be in the form of his life, with 13 goals and five assists over the past three months (despite the AFCON), and his double on Sunday took him to 101 combined goals (60 strikes, 41 assists) since moving to the Etihad Stadium.
"I don't know if I am a great goalscorer but I am trying to help the team as much as I can every game," Mahrez said.
"This season I'm more efficient but it is because of the work we are doing in training.
"I'm trying to be in the box more, and trying to be involved everywhere to try to score goals and help the team. That's the only thing I am trying to do."
Speaking after the match, Pep Guardiola praised Mahrez's contribution to City's title tilt but refused to take too much credit for the Algerian's form.
"Riyad was the best player when they won the league at Leicester," Guardiola told BBC 5 Live. "The quality belongs to [the players].
"I just try as a manager to make them feel together and the movements they do together can increase their abilities. The ability comes from his mum and dad, so I cannot help them."
City's closest title rivals, Liverpool, maintained the pressure on their fierce foe with victory over West Ham United in Saturday's late kick-off, with Sadio Mane scoring the only goal of the game.
Meeting Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross in the 27th minute, the Senegal forward extended Liverpool's winning run to 12 matches in all competitions while adding his third goal since clinching the Nations Cup crown with the Teranga Lions.
There were mixed fortunes for Nigeria strikers Kelechi Iheanacho and Emmanuel Dennis in the top flight, with the former registering the decisive assist -- his fifth of the season -- to set up Harvey Barnes for Leicester 's winner against Leeds United.
Despite having to battle for minutes under Brendan Rodgers during a difficult campaign for the Foxes, Iheanacho has still had a hand in seven goals this term; only four Leicester players having been involved in more goals.
"I think it is a fantastic goal, a good victory for us and we need to keep that momentum going forward," Iheanacho told Leicester's official website. "It's a training goal for me because we do that a lot.
"[Barnes] knows where to find me and I know where to get him as well, it is what we have built together. I just needed to set the ball perfectly for him and we are hopeful of getting more goals.
"I want to play my football, fight to help my teammates and that is what I did," he added. "We have to fight together to the end."
Substitute 'Seniorman' continues to excel off the bench, with only Olivier Giroud having had a hand in more goals (19) than Iheanacho's 17 after entering a game as a substitute since the start of the 2015-16 season; Iheanacho's tally comprises nine goals and eights assists.
No player during that period has had more assists off the bench than Iheanacho, although his contribution against Leeds will surely see him knocking at Rodgers' door as he hunts for a starting berth.
For Iheanacho's compatriot Dennis -- who's also been included in the Super Eagles squad to face Ghana in the World Cup qualifying double-header later this month -- the weekend represented a missed opportunity to boost Watford's chances of remaining in the top flight.
He missed another big opportunity -- which could have proved critical as the Hornets only fell to a 3-2 defeat -- and has scored just once in his past nine league games.
Watford desperately need Dennis to rediscover the form he showed in late 2021, when he had a hand in 10 goals in eight matches between October and December, if they're to stand a chance of remaining in the top flight.
One player who won't be present when Nigeria face Ghana -- barring injury to others -- is Union Berlin forward Awoniyi, who has been relegated to the squad's stand-by list despite scoring during the Nations Cup.
The top Nigerian scorer in Europe's big five leagues this term, Awoniyi's return of 10 goals is greater than Dennis (nine) or Napoli 's Victor Osimhen (seven), yet he's been dropped by the Nigeria Football Federation as veteran Odion Ighalo returns to the fold.
Awoniyi has scored just once in the top flight since the start of December, and he headed an own goal to hand Wolfsburg a 1-0 home victory at the weekend.