Man City slammed for ‘Under-10′ style defending in ’embarrassing’ defeat to minnows who claim first ever Champions League win

Jan 20, 2026 - 20:30
Man City slammed for ‘Under-10′ style defending in ’embarrassing’ defeat to minnows who claim first ever Champions League win

Manchester City’s hopes for a top eight Champions League finish have been dealt a blow by the unlikeliest of sources.

Pep Guardiola’s side slumped to a shock 3-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday with the Norwegian outfit claiming their first ever Champions League win.

Pep Guardiola looks frustrated
Guardiola had no answer for Bodo/Glimt
Getty
Bodo/Glimt's players celebrate Kasper Hogh's goal
Bodo/Glimt’s triumph over City was a historic one
AFP

Kasper Hogh’s brace in the space of two minutes in the first half coupled with Jens Petter Hauge’s stunning curled effort did the business for Bodo/Glimt, as Rayan Cherki’s strike on the hour proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

City were slightly fortunate not to have been behind by more given the hosts had the ball in the net a further two times, only for them to be ruled out for offside.

The porous nature of City’s defending was highlighted by former West Ham United and Chelsea star Scott Minto, who held nothing back in a scathing verdict on commentary for talkSPORT.

“Their defending looks like an Under-10s side,” Minto said.

“I’m frustrated and I’m not even a Manchester City fan.

“I can’t begin to think what they’re thinking.”

talkSPORT commentator Joe Shennan added: “An embarrassing night for Manchester City, a chastening night for Pep Guardiola.”

For Bodo/Glimt, their win meant they became the first Norwegian club to beat an English team in the Champions League since October 2002, when Viking overcame Chelsea 4-2.

It wasn’t just the ignominy of defeat that made it a night to forget for City, as they lost Rodri to a second yellow card in the 62nd minute.

To make matters worse, there was just 53 seconds separating the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner’s first and second bookings.

Rodri was sent off against Bodo/Glimt
Rodri had an evening to forget against the Norwegian side
AFP

The defeat to Bodo/Glimt has left City in fourth place and on 13 points after seven Champions League fixtures.

However, Guardiola’s side are at risk of falling out of the top eight should other results go against them.

In fact, City could tumble down as far as 15th, which is occupied by Barcelona who are on 10 points but have a goal difference of plus-three, one fewer than the English side.

The defeat up in the Arctic Circle continued a miserable start to 2026 for Guardiola and his troops.

City have won just twice from their first seven fixtures to start the new year, one of which those victories came in the form of a 10-1 mauling over League One club Exeter City in the FA Cup.

The other victory was a 2-0 win against Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Manchester City players clap their supporters
Should City fail to make the top eight in the Champions League, they will have to play an extra two games
AFP

Despite boasting the lion’s share of possession against Bodo/Glimt, City were made to pay as their counterparts executed the perfect counter-attacking game plan.

City also finished with a total of 15 shots and nine corners but simply couldn’t make their dominance count.

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