FK Bodø/Glimt delivered one of the crucial eye-catching ends in latest UEFA Champions League historical past as they swept apart Manchester Metropolis 3-1, recording their first-ever victory over English opposition and throwing the group vast open, Softfootball studies.
Metropolis arrived in northern Norway below strain after a disappointing Manchester derby defeat to Manchester United final weekend, and the journey shortly lived as much as its “banana-skin” billing. Performed on a man-made floor in freezing circumstances, the early indicators have been really encouraging for Pep Guardiola’s facet. They dominated possession and will have taken the lead inside 10 minutes, however Max Alleyne someway headed Phil Foden’s nook over the bar from shut vary.
That miss proved pivotal. In opposition to the stream of play, Bodø/Glimt struck first as Ole Didrik Blomberg delivered a teasing cross that Kasper Høgh powered dwelling on the far publish. Metropolis barely had time to regroup earlier than the hosts doubled their benefit, with Blomberg once more the creator, slipping in behind the defence and squaring for Høgh to complete clinically.
The Premier League champions seemed rattled, and their frustration was summed up simply earlier than the interval when a free ball dropped invitingly for Erling Haaland within the field, just for the striker to react too late and squander a golden probability to tug one again.
Guardiola resisted the urge to make modifications at half-time, a call that almost backfired instantly as Bodø/Glimt thought they’d a 3rd objective, just for Håkon Evjen to be dominated offside. The reprieve was transient. Moments later, Jens Petter Hauge produced a sensational solo effort, curling an unstoppable strike into the highest nook to make it 3-0 and ship the house crowd into raptures.
Metropolis did reply via Rayan Cherki, who pulled a objective again, however any hopes of a comeback have been shortly extinguished when Rodri was despatched off after selecting up two yellow playing cards in below a minute. From there, Bodø/Glimt managed the sport beautifully, even hitting the crossbar via Hauge and seeing Høgh denied a hat-trick by one other offside name.
The hosts might have added additional gloss late on, just for Gianluigi Donnarumma to disclaim Andreas Helmersen in a one-on-one. It mattered little, although, as the ultimate whistle confirmed a well-known night time for the Norwegian champions, who transfer firmly into play-off competition heading into the ultimate matchday.
After the sport ended, Manchester metropolis by way of its official X deal with, shared the complete time picture of the disappointing loss away from dwelling . They posted:
For Metropolis, it was one other sobering setback following their derby defeat, leaving them prone to ending exterior the highest eight. New signing Marc Guéhi, who lately joined from Crystal Palace in a deal value round £20m, was absent from the squad, as Guardiola’s facet struggled badly with out stability on the again on an evening they are going to be eager to overlook.
