Back in 1994, Manchester City ventured just above the Arctic Circle for a friendly match, with Uwe Rosler leading the attack and Brian Horton as the manager. That encounter ended notoriously with a 5-1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt, leaving an indelible mark on the team’s history.

If that past loss was notable, the recent performance was a whole new level of embarrassment. In what could only be described as a “hold my beer” scenario, City’s youngest ever lineup in Champions League history faltered on an artificial surface.

With their position in the top eight now precarious, the evening turned sour as captain Rodri was sent off, Erling Haaland missed several opportunities and pointed fingers elsewhere, and young defender Max Alleyne faced a tough time. Meanwhile, the decision to place Rayan Ait-Nouri at right back puzzled many.

Compounding their woes was the fact that they hadn’t played a competitive game in over a month, with the Norwegian league set to resume in March. Their only recent matches were friendlies against Groningen and Diosgyori.

This culminated in one of the most disappointing nights of Pep Guardiola’s decade-long tenure. Astonishingly, City have managed just two victories in their last seven matches, one of which was against Exeter City.

Rodri was sent off with two yellow cards in the space of a minute as Man CIty unravelled 

Bodo/Glimt’s Jens Petter Hauge (right) celebrates scoring a sensational goal in the 3-1 win

Pep Guardiola could hardly believe what he was watching and this was a shocking defeat 

The sheer dismal nature of their performance, especially following a lackluster showing at Old Trafford, was unexpected. Not to this degree, at least, considering the stature of the manager and the caliber of players involved.

Even with a heavy injury list, especially at the back, there is real shock to how City have unravelled. Marc Guehi has a fair bit on his plate to shore up a bereft back four and seemingly overnight, the likes of Haaland and Phil Foden look physically and mentally shot.

In the seconds running up to Kasper Hogh’s opening goal, Horton messaged Daily Mail Sport laughing that he was watching this tie in the hope of erasing memories of his one afternoon visiting the peninsula 26 years ago. 

In what seemed a relaxed atmosphere in temperatures not as harsh as advertised, City staff were taking beauty pictures of the sunset over the sea at around three o’clock before the evening turned ugly.

Hogh’s first, after 22 minutes, came as Alleyne went to engage in a duel he’d never win. Rico Lewis didn’t stop the cross, Hogh heading in. City and Alleyne were so shellshocked that the youngster – who was on loan at Watford up until a fortnight ago – soon lost his bearings, allowing Jens Petter Hauge to pick his pocket and Hogh to double the lead just seconds later. Hogh is a target for Norwich City, although may have the pick of brighter lights now.

A disorientated Alleyne had gifted possession when facing his own goal but that Bodo could walk the ball in thereafter spoke volumes of those around him.

Haaland threw his arms in anger at the capitulation, although barely held anything up all night himself, not giving City room to breathe.

Alleyne, Haaland and Abdukodir Khusanov all fluffed huge opportunities for City yet the Norwegians were continuing to rampage forward themselves.

Erling Haaland look far from his best and missed chances before blaming others 

Gianluigi Donnarumma looks downcast after conceding as the home side looked rampant 

It was an historic night for the Norwegian side from a fishing town of just 55,000

Haaland missed chances and was also unable to hold up play for the visitors 

Once Rodri gave the ball away and then waved Hauge on his merry way while sauntering in unchecked from the left flank to beautifully curl beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma, the game was done.

Rodri’s race was run soon after, two bookings for fouls predicated on the match appearing too quick for him. 

Caught flatfooted, he wasn’t at the pace of moves as they unfolded and it looks like being some time before the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner returns to anywhere near his best.

Hauge struck the bar, Bodo saw two goals ruled out for offside, while Rayan Cherki had driven in from the edge of the box.

But what does this mean for City now? It heaps additional pressure on the arrival of Galatasaray at the end of the month, the final game of this stage, and there are stars whose stocks have plummeted over recent days.

Horton allowed his players a decent night out in Norway’s capital, Oslo, before going home all those years ago. This, though, was just sobering.