Manchester City’s trip to the Arctic Circle turned into a night to forget as Pep Guardiola’s side were outplayed and beaten 3-1 by Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League. On a bitterly cold evening in northern Norway, the Premier League champions looked a shadow of themselves, leaving questions hanging over a team already struggling for form in 2026.
A Night to Remember for Bodo/Glimt
For Norwegian football, this was one of those landmark moments. In front of fewer than 8,000 fans at the Aspmyra Stadion, Bodo/Glimt delivered a performance full of belief, energy and ruthless execution. A club that was playing second-tier football just a decade ago showed no fear against European royalty, striking with pace on the counter and making City pay for their mistakes.
Former striker Chris Sutton summed it up on BBC Radio 5 Live, calling it an embarrassing night for City and warning that failure to beat Galatasaray next could push them into unwanted play-offs. Bodo/Glimt, he said, didn’t just win — they “pummelled” their opponents, and the scoreline could easily have been heavier.
City’s Problems Deepen
This defeat came at a bad time for Guardiola. City are winless in the Premier League so far this year, and injuries have once again ripped through the squad. Eight first-team players were missing in Norway, with Bernardo Silva suspended and new signing Antoine Semenyo ineligible. The result was City’s youngest-ever Champions League starting XI, with four players aged 21 or under.
Young centre-back Max Alleyne, recalled from Watford to help cover the crisis, endured a difficult debut and was involved in the opening two goals. Matters worsened when Rodri was sent off after two quick yellow cards, effectively ending City’s hopes of a comeback. Even Erling Haaland struggled on home soil, extending his open-play goal drought to a month.
Guardiola Searching for Answers
Guardiola admitted his frustration after the match, acknowledging that momentum has swung sharply against his side since the turn of the year. City have won just two of their last seven matches and are coming off back-to-back defeats, including a damaging loss to Manchester United.
“Everything feels like it’s going wrong,” the City manager admitted, while stressing the need to change the dynamic quickly. With crucial matches against Wolves and Galatasaray looming, confidence is fragile and time is short.
As for Bodo/Glimt, their rise continues to defy expectations. A club with modest finances and a tiny population behind it has once again shown that organisation, belief and courage can still humble the giants of European football — even those managed by Pep Guardiola.
