Rodrigo “Rodri” Hernández endured one of the toughest nights of his City career as tiny Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt produced a sensational 3–1 Champions League victory on 20 January 2026, a result that will be remembered as much for the red card that ended City’s comeback as for the quality of the hosts’ finishing.
Quick recap: How the game turned
Bodø/Glimt struck first through Kasper Høgh, who netted twice in the first half to put the underdogs 2–0 up. Jens Petter Hauge then added a spectacular third shortly after the hour mark to make it 3–0. City briefly sparked back when Rayan Cherki pulled one back in the 60th minute, but the momentum swung decisively against Manchester City when Rodri was shown two yellow cards within about a minute and sent off in the 62nd minute, effectively ending any realistic hopes of a comeback.
What went wrong for Rodri
The second half saw an unusually poor 10-15 minutes for Rodri which went from bad to worse. He was beaten in possession in the build-up to Bodø/Glimt’s third goal; that turnover led to Jens Petter Hauge’s curling finish that restored a three-goal cushion.
Just few moments after City’s 60th-minute goal, Rodri committed two fouls in rapid succession that the referee booked; the second yellow came so quickly after the first that broadcasters highlighted the 53-second span between the cautions, leaving City down to 10 men at a crucial moment, as he was sent off & walked straight down the tunnel.
Numbers and context
It was quite evident how uncharacteristic Rodri’s influence was on the game, highlighted by his near-absence from decisive defensive actions and creative moments during the contest.
Rodri registered 0 tackles, 0 dribbles and 0 key passes on a forgettable outing for the midfielder, probably one of his worst in Man City jersey.
Reaction and consequences
The defeat is a major shock for Pep Guardiola’s side, both because of the opponent and the manner of the loss. Reporters and pundits have described it as one of City’s more humiliating European nights. The result leaves City’s Champions League progression in a more precarious position and hands Bodø/Glimt a famous first-ever win in the competition.
For Rodri personally, the red card is damaging not just for the match but for the possible suspension going forward. Two quick yellows and an early exit will raise questions about composure in pressure moments, something he’s rarely been criticized for across his City career.
Bottom line
This was a perfect storm of an inspired home performance by Bodø/Glimt, unforced City errors and an uncharacteristic loss of composure from Rodri at a pivotal moment. The dismissal, coming almost immediately after City had looked to be mounting a comeback, was the defining turning point in what will be remembered as a historic night for the Norwegian club and a worrying one for Manchester City.
