This article contains affiliate links to advertisers. Gamble Aware 18+
The hosts have little hope of qualifying for the next stage after amassing just three points from their opening six matches, although they are undoubtedly tricky opponents.
After relinquishing their Eliteserien title to Viking FK – who hadn’t won the Norwegian top-flight for over three decades – on the final day of the season, Bodo recorded an impressive 2-2 draw away to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. It was the third time that Kjetil Knutsen’s men had experienced this scoreline during their debut Champions League campaign, after taking points from Slavia Prague and Spurs.
However, three consecutive losses throughout Autumn has ultimately undermined their progress. A 3-1 reverse to Galatasaray in Istanbul preceded narrow defeats to Monaco and Juventus on home soil, leaving Bodo languishing at the bottom end of the league phase table. Although the Norwegians have been competitive in every fixture, a landmark first Champions League victory still eludes them.
Meanwhile, Manchester City will hope to continue their recent domestic form into the continental arena. The Citizens are snapping at the heels of Premier League leaders Arsenal, while also progressing well in both cup competitions.
Having only suffered one defeat in Europe this season, Pep Guardiola's side are also just behind the Gunners at the summit of the Champions League standings. They’ve already delivered some highly impressive results during the competition’s initial exchanges, including a hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. Several other elite outfits have also succumbed to City’s swashbuckling style of play, with Napoli, Villarreal, and Borussia Dortmund all put to the sword.
A draw with Monaco and November’s disappointing home loss to Bayer Leverkusen are the only blots on the copybook so far, ensuring their safe passage through to the knockout stages – if not yet the Round of 16 – is already guaranteed.
Bodo/Glimt v Manchester City – Key information
Date: Tuesday, January 20th
Kick-off time: 17:45 (BST)
Venue: Aspmyra Stadion
TV Channels: TNT Sports 2
Live stream: discovery+
Odds: Bodø/Glimt: 9/2, Draw: 5/1, Manchester City: 2/5
Odds provided by bet365
Bodo/Glimt v Manchester City team news
Having not witnessed his team play a competitive fixture for over a month due to the conclusion of Norway’s domestic season, Kjetil Knutsen has had plenty of time to prepare his squad for Tuesday’s clash. Conversely, Pep Guardiola has been forced to navigate a congested recent schedule, as City continue to fight on several domestic fronts.
Bod/Glimt team news
After struggling with a hamstring strain towards the back end of 2025, Norwegian defender Haitam Aleesami appears to be back to full fitness.
However, the condition of Ulrik Saltnes is unclear following a further health scare. Bodo’s influential skipper was suffering from the effects of meningitis throughout the autumn, having initially been diagnosed with the illness way back in 2018. He returned to first-team action at the end of October and featured as a half-time substitute in last month’s draw with Borussia Dortmund, but there’s been no confirmation as to whether Saltness will be ready to start against Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Ola Brynhildsen’s injury-ravaged loan stint has come to an end. The 26-year-old frontman made just one league appearance for Bodo during his four-month spell in the Arctic Circle thanks to a severe knee injury, but has now returned to parent club FC Midtjylland.
Kjetil Knutsen’s biggest decision comes at the top end of the pitch, as the highly-respected coach ponders whether to deploy Kasper Høgh or Andreas Helmersen as his central striker. Having scored in Bodo’s last game of the domestic campaign after starting ahead of his attacking teammate, there’s reason to believe Helmersen could get the nod. However, the Norwegian youth international has consistently played second fiddle to Høgh in the Champions League, despite also netting against Galatasaray as a late substitute on matchday three.
Bodo/Glimt predicted lineup v Manchester City (4-3-3)
Coach: Kjetil Knutsen
Nikita Haikin (GK); Fredrik Sjøvold, Odin Lurås Bjørtuft, Haitam Aleesami, Fredrik André Bjørkan; Håkon Evjen, Patrick Berg, Sondre Brunstad Fet; Ole Didrik Blomberg, Kasper Høgh, Jens Petter Hauge
Manchester City team news
Having sustained a tibial fracture during Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea earlier this month, Joško Gvardiol is set to be sidelined for an extended period. The Croatian international has since undergone surgery, so he’s already commenced his rehabilitation. Fellow defender Rúben Dias also developed an issue against the West Londoners, pulling his hamstring towards the latter stages of the contest. John Stones is also missing from the Citizens’ backline thanks to a thigh strain, but should be back in contention early next month.
Mateo Kovačić is still nursing a recurring ankle injury, having only made two appearances all season. There’s still no sign of Savinho after the Brazilian picked up a knock at the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day, while versatile attacker Oscar Bobb hasn’t trained since the middle of December. After Egypt’s semi-final elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations and subsequent third/fourth place play-off, Omar Marmoush is unlikely to make the trip to northern Norway.
Following his lucrative move from Bournemouth, Antoine Semenyo is ineligible to play in his new team’s next two Champions League matches due to UEFA’s rules regarding mid-season squad changes. However, City’s latest arrival will be available to contribute in the knockout stages.
Manchester City predicted lineup v Bodo/Glimt (4-1-4-1)
Coach: Pep Guardiola
Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK); Matheus Nunes, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nathan Aké, Nico O'Reilly; Rodri; Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden, Jérémy Doku, Erling Haaland
Where to watch on TV or live stream?
TNT Sports is currently the United Kingdom’s main home of Champions League football, although this will change when Paramount acquire broadcasting rights to UEFA’s most prestigious club competition from the 2027/28 season.
Tuesday’s clash between Bodo/Glimt and Manchester City will be televised exclusively live on TNT Sports 2, with the build-up commencing 45 minutes before kick-off. As a sister network of TNT Sports, discovery+ is providing a stream of the match on its in-house application.
Head-to-Head record
Bodo/Glimt have never previously beaten an English opponent, losing five of their six encounters so far.
Remarkably, this will be Manchester City’s first-ever meeting with a Norwegian side. None of the last nine English teams to visit Norway on UEFA Club Competition duty have suffered defeat, with Spurs being the latest addition to that group following September’s 2-2 draw at the Aspmyra Stadion. This sequence stems all the way back to the 2002/03 UEFA Cup campaign, when Chelsea lost 4-2 to Viking FK in Stavanger.
Bodo/Glimt v Manchester City – Match Result odds
The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change. All odds provided by bet365.