After a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, Manchester City is eager to start anew as they head to the Arctic Circle to clash with Bodo/Glimt.
City’s recent loss in the Manchester derby, which featured second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, has dealt a significant blow to their Premier League title aspirations.
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The Blues struggled to pose a serious threat during the match, with several players looking fatigued and not at their best. Pep Guardiola acknowledged that “the better team won” and noted that “they had the energy that we didn’t.”
This defeat ended Manchester City’s 13-match unbeaten streak across all competitions and allowed Arsenal to widen their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points, even after being held to a goalless draw by Nottingham Forest.
Now, City’s attention shifts to the Champions League, where they visit Bodo/Glimt—a team currently sitting in 32nd place in the Champions League standings with only three points from their first six matches.
The Norwegian side’s Eliteserien season concluded on November 30, and they will not resume until March 14, 2024. Consequently, Bodo/Glimt has only played one competitive match in over six weeks—a 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund. This long break has hampered their match sharpness, but it has also allowed ample time for recovery, supplemented by two friendly matches to maintain form.
In sharp contrast, City has played 13 matches during this time, with signs of fatigue becoming more apparent. The lengthy journey to one of Norway’s northernmost towns means that squad rotation will be essential for City to bring the necessary intensity and energy.
While Manchester City has already secured a place in the play-offs, making it impossible for them to slip from the top 24, this match still holds significance. Guardiola’s team must continue to perform well to avoid the play-offs and achieve automatic qualification for the round of 16.
Bodo/Glimt’s chances of advancement are slim; they would need to win against both Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, while also relying on consecutive losses for the eight teams between them and 24th place to keep their European hopes alive.
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Here is everything you need to know ahead of the match between Manchester City and Bodo/Glimt!
Match Details
The match between Bodo/Glimt and Manchester City will kick off at 17:45 (UK) on Tuesday, January 20, at Aspmyra Stadion in Bodo, Norway.
Match Officials
Sven Jablonski will officiate the match, marking his first time overseeing a Manchester City game.
The complete list of match officials is provided below!
Match Officials: Sven Jablonski to referee Bodo/Glimt vs Manchester City
Team News
Bodo/Glimt will be missing Jostein Gundersen, who is serving a suspension after receiving a red card against AS Monaco, and Haitam Aleesami, sidelined with a hamstring injury.
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Josko Gvardiol may miss the remainder of the season, while Ruben Dias and John Stones are also unavailable as they continue their recovery from injuries.
Matheus Nunes was absent from the derby due to flu and has not returned to the squad for this match, although there are hopes he may return for the weekend’s game against Wolves.
Mateo Kovacic is still recovering from heel surgery and is expected back in a few weeks. Nico Gonzalez is out for the third consecutive match and will not travel with the squad.
Savinho and Oscar Bobb are also unavailable due to injury, while Phil Foden is a doubt following his substitution during the derby but has been included in City’s 21-man squad.
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Bernardo Silva is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards in the Champions League, while Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi are ineligible as they were not part of the league phase of the competition.
Pep Guardiola’s Press Conference Quotes
“Marc Guehi is a top central defender and plays for the national team. I appreciate the Club for bringing him here because he’s at the perfect age, capable of playing on either side. It’s crucial he’s part of our team.”
“If he had a longer contract at Crystal Palace, this would have been impossible, but with only six months left, the deal was easier. Crystal Palace and the Club had to agree, and then the player chose to join us.”
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“We haven’t discussed Manchester United; we’ll focus on that before the Wolves match. Now, we need to concentrate on the Champions League. Last season at this stage, we had seven points; now, we have 13. We were in Paris, down 2-0 early in the second half, lost 4-2, and PSG went on to win the Champions League. We have a great chance to qualify in the top eight.”
“Phil Foden has a minor hand injury from the match against Manchester United, but he’s fit for tomorrow.”
“I’ve been to Oslo a year ago, and I loved it! I am familiar with the area and the weather.”
“Erling Haaland said he slept well, so he’s in good shape.”
“I don’t have any updates on Oscar Bobb; he says he’s not fit.”
Head To Head
Tuesday’s match will be the first encounter between these two teams, coinciding with Bodo/Glimt’s debut season in the UEFA Champions League.
Statistics
Bodo/Glimt has never defeated an English opponent, holding a record of five losses and one draw in six matches (the draw was against Tottenham Hotspur this season).
This is Manchester City’s inaugural match against a Norwegian team.
English clubs are unbeaten in their last nine major European away games in Norway (W6, D3).
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Bodo/Glimt has scored two or more goals in nine of their last ten home matches across all competitions.
Erling Haaland has not scored in open play in his last seven games, marking his longest drought in that situation.
Bodo/Glimt is the northernmost team to compete in the UEFA Champions League.
They also have the highest expected goals against tally in the Champions League this season, standing at 17.2.
A victory for Manchester City would see Pep Guardiola join an elite group of managers with 25 away wins in the Champions League with the same club.
How To Watch
Fans in the UK can watch the game on Amazon Prime, TNT Sports, and Discovery+, with radio coverage available on BBC Radio 5 Live.
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In the USA, viewers can tune in on CBS Sports Network and Paramount+.
For full global TV listings, click HERE.
City Xtra will provide live coverage on our X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram throughout matchday, with additional content on cityxtra.co.uk!