Haaland and Man City's Nightmare Deepens as Champions League Shocker Extends Devastating Losing Streak

Manchester City's disappointing beginning to 2026 persisted on Tuesday evening as their inaugural encounter with Norwegian opponents resulted in an unexpected defeat.

Following a demoralizing loss in the Manchester derby, Pep Guardiola led his squad into the Arctic Circle to confront Bødo/Glimt on Champions League Matchday 7.

The 3–1 result means City have suffered consecutive defeats and managed just two victories from their seven matches across all tournaments in this calendar year.

After concluding 2025 with eight consecutive victories, including a triumph over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu, City are now moving in the reverse direction.

"Today presented an amazing chance for us, but the sensation is that everything is going awry," Guardiola reflected after the final whistle in Norway, recognizing the broader decline. "It's working against us in numerous details, and that is reality, and we must attempt to reverse it."

It was a youthful lineup selected by Guardiola, with an average age of slightly over 24 years making it their youngest ever in the Champions League. However, there was no lack of top-level experience when the starting XI featured Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rodri, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Rico Lewis.

One player who has been thrust into challenging circumstances this month is 20-year-old Max Alleyne, brought back from a loan stint at Watford and immediately required to start alongside the slightly older Abdukodir Khusanov. Alleyne was responsible for both of the rapid-fire goals scored by Kasper Høgh within two minutes during the first half, initially failing to intercept after breaking the defensive line and then losing control of the ball in City's half.

Jens Petter Hauge extended Bødo/Glimt's lead to three goals in the 58th minute. Rayan Cherki quickly responded with a goal, but Rodri's red card shortly after following a second yellow proved to create an insurmountable challenge for City.

Playing in his homeland of Norway, Haaland squandered an excellent opportunity to reduce the deficit just before halftime. After a brilliant season start, his sole goal in the past month—since December 20—came from the penalty he scored against Brighton & Hove Albion two weeks prior. Apart from that, it's eight matches without a non-penalty goal, including the 10–1 demolition of Exeter City in the FA Cup.

Man City Results So Far in 2026

Man City Results So Far in 2026