Why Man City’s Shock Champions League Loss at Bodo/Glimt was Very Bad News for Pep Guardiola

Manchester City’s difficult run of results deepened on Tuesday night after a stunning 3-1 Champions League defeat away to Bodo/Glimt, a result that raised fresh concerns for Pep Guardiola and his struggling side. The loss in Norway was not just unexpected, but damaging in several ways, underlining issues with form, squad depth and fatigue at a crucial stage of the season.

City have no form at all to rely on

Outside of wins in the domestic cup competitions, Manchester City’s league and European form has dipped alarmingly. Since edging a late and somewhat fortunate 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest on December 27, Guardiola’s men have failed to register another win in regular competition.

The defeat in the Arctic Circle means City have now suffered back-to-back losses, following Saturday’s Manchester derby setback, something that has not happened since November. Even more concerning is the broader trend. After closing out 2025 with an impressive eight-game winning streak, City have managed just two victories from their last seven matches, making the opening weeks of 2026 a real grind.

Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom summed up the mood around the club, saying: “This is a group that looks short on confidence. What this defeat does is increase the jeopardy in this Champions League campaign. From a position where they seemed comfortable in the top eight, City could now head into the final matchday outside those automatic qualification places and needing results elsewhere to go their way.

“Given how demanding this schedule already is, the last thing anyone at City wants is two additional playoff matches.”

Although it would be premature to label the situation a full-blown crisis, particularly with City still competing on multiple fronts, there is no denying that the team currently looks stretched and short of solutions across the pitch.

Short of options and exposed at the back

As was the case in the Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford, City once again looked alarmingly fragile defensively against Bodo/Glimt. The central defensive pairing of Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne struggled badly, with Alleyne particularly culpable for the opening two goals conceded.

Guardiola was forced to field a youthful and makeshift side, with no fewer than 11 senior players unavailable due to injury, illness, suspension or ineligibility. Recent signing Marc Guehi was among those missing, alongside established first-choice defenders Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones.

Even with those absences taken into account, the manner in which the Norwegian champions — a side that had never previously won a Champions League match — were able to slice through City’s defence with ease will have been deeply concerning for supporters and coaching staff alike.

Guardiola will undoubtedly be eager to introduce Guehi as soon as possible, potentially handing the defender his debut in Saturday’s Premier League clash at home to Wolves in a bid to restore some stability at the back.

Haaland is running on empty

A week ago, Guardiola admitted that Erling Haaland was “exhausted”, a comment that raised eyebrows after the striker was surprisingly involved in the first half of City’s emphatic 10-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Exeter City on January 10.

Since then, the normally ruthless forward has endured a rare dip in form. He was substituted during the Manchester derby at the weekend, an unusual sight in itself, and his return to Norway on Tuesday night brought little joy. The 25-year-old failed to score once again, missing a golden opportunity just before half-time when he fired wide with the goal at his mercy.

Haaland has now gone a month without a goal from open play and has just a single penalty to his name in his last eight appearances. For City to rediscover momentum and rescue what has become a stuttering campaign, their talismanic striker will need to rediscover his scoring touch quickly.

February fixture congestion on the cards?

City’s defeat has seen them slide down to seventh place in the Champions League table, and their position in the top eight is now far from secure. Depending on the outcome of other results, their standing could deteriorate further.

Dropping out of the top eight would mean navigating an additional two-legged playoff tie, significantly increasing the workload in February. For a squad already battling fatigue and injuries, the prospect of extra high-intensity European fixtures is far from ideal as City continue their push on four fronts.

Automatic Champions League qualification in jeopardy

While the situation is not yet as bleak as last season — when City finished a disappointing 22nd in the revamped Champions League standings and were handed a daunting knockout playoff against eventual winners Real Madrid — the warning signs are flashing again.

Last season, 16 points were required to secure a top-eight finish. City currently sit on 13 points, meaning victory in their final group-stage match at home to Galatasaray next week would be required to reach that mark.

However, that task has been made more complicated by the suspension of key midfielder Rodri following his red card on Tuesday, combined with the ongoing defensive injury crisis. Galatasaray, who have already beaten Liverpool in this competition and are also chasing a top-eight place, will pose a serious threat.

With confidence low, options limited and pressure mounting, Guardiola faces one of the most testing periods of his City tenure. How his side responds in the coming weeks may well define their entire season.