The challenges continue to mount for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City squad, as they suffered a comprehensive defeat in the Champions League against Bodo/Glimt, following closely on the heels of their loss in the Manchester derby. This 3-1 victory marked Bodo/Glimt's first win of the 2025/26 Champions League season, a dominant performance against Guardiola's side, which was reduced to 10 men.

The critical turning point came midway through the second half when Ballon d'Or winner Rodri received a red card, exacerbating City's predicament. This result means Manchester City has now endured two consecutive losses and, alarmingly, no wins in their last five Premier League or Champions League games, highlighting a significant dip in their form.

Manchester City's away fixture in Norway was fraught with potential hazards, not least due to being played on an artificial pitch in freezing conditions, and coming just days after their disappointing derby defeat to Manchester United. Despite these challenging circumstances, Pep Guardiola’s team initially started aggressively and should have taken an early lead. Max Alleyne inexplicably headed over from only six yards out after being left completely unmarked from a Phil Foden corner, a miss that would prove costly.

The missed opportunity was swiftly punished as Bodø/Glimt struck against the run of play. Ole Didrik Blomberg delivered a precise cross that allowed Kasper Høgh to power home a header at the far post, giving the Norwegian side the lead. City appeared visibly shaken, and their woes deepened moments later when Blomberg once again found space, squaring the ball for Høgh to calmly slot home his second goal, doubling the hosts' advantage.

Before half-time, Manchester City's frustration intensified as Erling Haaland failed to capitalize on a loose ball inside the penalty box, missing a clear chance to reduce the deficit. Guardiola opted against making any changes at the interval, and his team was fortunate not to concede a third goal almost immediately when Håkon Evjen's effort was disallowed for offside.

However, this reprieve was short-lived. Jens Petter Hauge produced a stunning solo strike to extend Bodo/Glimt's lead to 3–0, seemingly putting the game beyond City's reach. Rayan Cherki briefly reignited City’s hopes with a quick response, but Rodri’s red card moments later all but extinguished any realistic chance of a comeback.

Bodo/Glimt comfortably managed the remainder of the game, securing a significant 3-1 victory that substantially boosts their play-off hopes in the Champions League. Conversely, Manchester City now faces the serious prospect of finishing outside the top eight in the competition, a stark indication of their current struggles.