Preview: Manchester City head to Arctic Circle for Bodø/Glimt test
Manchester City can take a huge step to the Champions League knockout rounds if they win in North Norway on Tuesday – but they’ll have to mount a much-improved display from the weekend defeat in the Derby.
By Karl Matchett
Pep Guardiola’s side were utterly railroaded by their local rivals in the Premier League on Saturday, physically and outmatched – not often an assessment laid at the doorstep of that team, under this manager. In the end, though, they were lucky it was only a 2-0 defeat and a big step up in application will be demanded by the manager – especially given the uncertainty around their opponents.
Fresh or frozen?
Bodø/Glimt have only failed to win four of their last 13 home games, holding Tottenham to a draw but losing to Juventus and Monaco in Europe this term. However, Guardiola will be wondering if they are undercooked or raring to go – the summer calendar means Norwegian teams are out of season right now, with Glimt having ended their 2025 campaign by finishing one point behind title winners Viking at the end of November. There has only been one further game since then in Europe, so they are without a competitive fixture in 40 days. The new league season doesn’t start until March, so fatigue certainly won’t be a problem to start – but might be to finish.
Mid-season stutter
The last time Man City beat a team in the Premier League placed higher than 17th was over a month ago. They have had decent cup wins since – Newcastle in an EFL semi-final and ten past minnows Exeter – but in league terms it’s four without a win, losing ground in the title race, and in Europe the shock home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen isn’t out of memory yet either. It’s a bad time for silverware hopefuls to be losing their consistency and cohesion, and while a spate of injury issues doesn’t help, they also have one of the best pools of talent to call upon anywhere in the continent – as well as adding Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi for an £85m mid-season boost. It’s time to deliver.
Recent form
There has been no ‘recent’ competitive action for Glimt, as mentioned, but they need to pull off a win here to have a prayer of reaching the playoffs. They are 32nd with three points and no wins. City have won two of the last six but competitions are muddled right now. In Europe they are fourth and a win here will almost guarantee the last 16.
Team news
Haitam Aleesami has a hamstring issue and Jostein Gundersen is suspended for the hosts.
City are without Savinho, John Stones, Mateo Kovačić, Joško Gvardiol, Rúben Dias, Nico González and Oscar Bobb. Bernardo Silva is suspended and it’s unclear if Omar Marmoush will be in the squad after AFCON duty finished at the weekend.
Key players
City have to get Erling Haaland firing again for any chance of success in this competition or domestically. He has scored one goal since 20 December, a full month ago. The competition’s worst defence by xG conceded (17.2) may help remedy that. Haaland has six goals in five starts in the Champions League.
Prediction
Nothing spectacular but City should get the job done: Bodø/Glimt 0-2 Man City.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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