Tunde Omoniyi
Manchester City were humiliated 3-1 by Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday, one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history.
Pep Guardiola’s team were outplayed and outclassed by the Norwegian minnows, with Kasper Hogh’s brace and Jens Petter Hauge’s stunning strike sealing the win.
Rodri’s red card in the 62nd minute sealed City’s fate, as they struggled to cope with Bodo/Glimt’s intense pressing.
Investigator news reports that Bodo’s entire population of only 55,000 people could almost fit into City’s Etihad Stadium.
But Kjetil Knutsen’s underdogs ignored the huge financial and talent gap between the clubs to inflict a chastening defeat on the Premier League giants.
Bodo/Glimt, who hadn’t played since December after the end of the Norwegian season, reached the Europa League semi-finals last term, an impressive run that maintained their remarkable rise over the last decade.
Bodo/Glimt had already earned creditable draws against Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham.City failed to heed the warning, playing with a lack of urgency in the face of Bodo/Glimt’s relentless pressing.
Investigator news also gathered that Bodo/Glimt took a shock lead in the 22nd minute.
It was a shambolic goal to concede, underlining the defensive issues that convinced Guardiola to sign England centre-back Marc Guehi.
Max Alleyne, who was playing on loan at second tier Watford earlier this season, showed his lack of experience, failing to deal with a high ball over the top.
Ole Didrik Blomberg pounced on the blunder, lofting a cross to the far post, where Hogh was left unmarked to guide his header through the legs of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, City paid the price for another Alleyne mistake just two minutes later.
With City’s defence out of position after Alleyne was caught out by a high bounce, Blomberg’s cross picked out Hogh, who was left completely unmarked to slot a cool finish past Donnarumma.
City striker Erling Haaland once again laboured for long periods and has now scored just once in eight games in all competitions after wasting two good chances late in the first half.
There was no improvement from City after the break and Bodo/Glimt delivered the knockout blow in the 58th minute.
Rodri lost possession and Hauge curled a brilliant finish into the top corner from long-range.
Cherki netted two minutes later with a clinical finish from the edge of the area.
But City’s misery was compounded in the 62nd minute when Rodri was dismissed for fouls on Evjen and Blomberg in the space of just 54 seconds
City are without a win in their last four Premier League matches, with Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United leaving them seven points behind leaders Arsenal.
Their final group phase fixture is at home to Galatasaray on January 28 as they try to seal an automatic place in the last 16 via a top-eight finish.
AFN
