Manchester City made unwanted history on Tuesday night, becoming the first English club to lose to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s men suffered a stunning 3-1 defeat at the Aspmyra Stadion, a result that sent shockwaves through European football. Despite dominating possession with 66%, City were picked apart by a clinical Bodo/Glimt side that had never previously beaten an English opponent in six attempts.
The Anatomy of a Shock
The damage was done early in the first half. Kasper Høgh became the hero of the night, scoring twice in just two minutes (22′ and 24′) to leave the Premier League champions reeling.
City’s defensive woes continued in the second half when Jens Petter Hauge added a third in the 58th minute. While January signing Rayan Cherki pulled one back shortly after, any hopes of a comeback vanished in the 62nd minute when Rodri was shown a second yellow card, leaving City with ten men.
A Historic Milestone
Before this match, Bodo/Glimt had a winless record against English giants:
- Arsenal: 2 defeats
- Tottenham: 2 defeats, 1 draw
- Manchester United: 1 defeat
By defeating Manchester City, Kjetil Knutsen’s side ended an unprecedented drought and secured arguably the greatest result in the club’s history.
Captains to Reimburse Traveling Fans
In a rare gesture of accountability, Manchester City’s leadership group Bernardo Silva, Rúben Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland announced following the match that they would personally reimburse the tickets of the 374 traveling Cityzens.
“We owe our fans an apology for this performance,” the statement read, acknowledging the underwhelming display in the freezing Norwegian conditions.
Laurinda Jocias is a football writer covering English women’s football, including the Women’s Super League. Her work focuses on players, clubs, and the continued development of the women’s game in the UK.
