Bodø/Glimt hosts Manchester City on Tuesday afternoon, January 20, 2026, in a UEFA Champions League encounter that pits Norwegian resilience against English firepower. The hosts finished 32nd in the Champions League standings with 3 points from six matches, drawing three and losing three before elimination. City, sitting second in the Premier League with 43 points from 22 games, arrive in Norway as heavy favorites despite recent domestic struggles.
Kjetil Knutsen's Bodø/Glimt enter this fixture sharp from their mid-season preparations. They hammered Diósgyőri VTK 4-1 on Tuesday in a friendly after earlier dispatching FC Groningen 4-0. Their Champions League campaign was competitive if unrewarding, claiming draws against Slavia Praha, Tottenham, and Borussia Dortmund but falling to Monaco, Galatasaray, and Juventus. Defensive depth has thinned with Haitam Aleesami sidelined by a hamstring injury and Jostein Gundersen serving the final match of his three-game suspension. Odin Luras Bjortuft could partner Villads Nielsen in central defense.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City suffered a damaging 2-0 derby defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, their fourth league loss this season. Before that setback, they had shown signs of recovery with a 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final win over Newcastle, a 10-1 FA Cup demolition of Exeter, and draws against Brighton and Chelsea. City's defensive crisis has deepened with Josko Gvardiol out for the season following a fractured leg. Ruben Dias, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, Oscar Bobb, and Savinho all remain unavailable, forcing Guardiola to patch together makeshift back lines.
This marks the first-ever meeting between Bodø/Glimt and Manchester City. The Norwegian club made waves in 2021 when they thrashed José Mourinho's Roma 6-1 at home in the Europa Conference League, showcasing their ability to shock elite opponents. City's superior quality and depth should prevail, but their defensive absences and congested fixture schedule create openings for an ambitious Bodø/Glimt side playing without pressure.
My model backs Both Teams to Score at 57/100 (1.57 decimal) with a 69.07% probability. The correct score prediction is Manchester City 2-1. Expected goals project Bodø/Glimt at 1.53 and Manchester City at 2.04. City's defensive injuries increase the likelihood of Bodø/Glimt finding the net at home. The narrow xG gap reflects City's weakened backline facing a capable Norwegian attack.