Embarrassment of riches

BODO, Norway — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said "everything is going wrong" for his team after being on the end of a stunning Champions League upset at Norwegian underdog Bodo/Glimt, one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history on Tuesday.

City slumped to a 3-1 loss in a match that also saw star midfielder Rodri get sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession.

The unexpected defeat against the tournament debutant came three days after City was outplayed in a 2-0 loss at fierce rival Manchester United in the Premier League.

City has won just two of its last seven matches in all competitions — and one of those was against third-tier Exeter in the FA Cup.

"Today was an incredible opportunity for us," Guardiola said, "but everything is going wrong, going against us in many details. That's a fact and we have to try to change it. The players are there and we tried.

"I don't have any doubt that in this competition, nothing is for granted, that's for sure. United were better than us (Saturday). Today it was momentum that punished us."

City has also been hit by injuries, especially in defense where center backs Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol are all out and right back Matheus Nunes was absent due to illness.

"We arrived in some departments without important players ... we are a little fragile," Guardiola said.

Erling Haaland, City's Norwegian striker, said sorry to the team's fans for the performance.

"I don't have the answers. I take full responsibility of not being able to score the goals I should do," Haaland said. "I just apologize to everyone — every single Man City supporter and every single supporter that traveled today. Because in the end, it's embarrassing."

After Kasper Hogh's first-half double for Bodo/Glimt, Jens Petter Hauge curled into the top corner in the 58th to make it 3-0. City replied through Rayan Cherki but hopes of a comeback were damaged soon after by Rodri collecting two yellow cards in quick succession.

City didn't look like a team that has had $500 million spent on players over the last 12 months, with its flimsy, injury-hit defense constantly pierced on the counterattack. The host had two would-be goals disallowed for narrow offside decisions and also hit the crossbar.

Add this upset to the most unlikely results down the years in the Champions League. They include Moldovan club Sheriff beating Real Madrid 2-1 in 2021, Rubin Kazan winning 2-1 at Guardiola's Barcelona in 2009, and Swiss underdog Basel beating Alex Ferguson's Manchester United by the same score in 2011.

PSG struggling

Meanwhile, PSG has work to do to ensure direct qualification to the last 16 next week after being caught out late in Portugal.

Luis Suarez struck twice for Sporting Lisbon in the second half, sealing a 2-1 victory with a 90th-minute header after substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had equalized for PSG after 79 minutes.

The French club dropped to fifth with a home date against Newcastle in its last group stage fixture.

While the top eight secure direct entry to the last 16, teams placed ninth to 24th must navigate an additional two-legged play-off to join them.

Next week the league phase comes to a dramatic denouement with all 18 matches kicking off at the same time.

Real, under new coach Alvaro Arbeloa, produced a dazzling attacking display to help fans forget recent disappointments.

Kylian Mbappe struck twice against his former side and Vinicius Junior — jeered by his own fans during a home win over Levante last weekend — scored a brilliant goal to lift the record 15-time European champion from seventh to second behind unstoppable Arsenal.

Gabriel Jesus pushed Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League with a double in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Inter Milan which made the Gunners mathematically sure of a top-eight finish.

Arsenal is now on its longest-ever winning streak in the Champions League and is guaranteed a top-two finish.

Jesus scored the first two goals for the Premier League leaders and the man he started ahead of — Viktor Gyokeres — came off the bench to net the third.

Petar Sucic had made it 1-1 with a goal for Inter, the heavily beaten finalist last season which has lost three straight games in the competition for the first time.

Inter slipped to ninth place.

Eleven teams in the Champions League have changed coaches already this season and Tottenham manager Thomas Frank was being tipped as the next to go heading into a home match against Borussia Dortmund.

However, Spurs won 2-0 against the 2024 runner-up, which had midfielder Daniel Svensson sent off in the first half, to move into fourth place giving Frank some respite.

The Dane has been jeered by Tottenham's own fans in recent games.

Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke scored Tottenham's goals.

The Italian champion Napoli is in danger of elimination.

Napoli was held to a 1-1 draw at 10-man Copenhagen and dropped to 23rd place before Wednesday's games. Those finishing 25th or lower in the 36-team standings won't even qualify for the playoffs.

Agencies