Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola started Algerian Rayan Ait Nouri in the Champions League match against Norwegian Bodo Glimt.
The Sky Blues will travel to the city of Bodo, overlooking the Arctic Ocean, to play their seventh match in the continental competition on Tuesday.
A new position for the Algerian
Rayan Ait Nouri regained his place in Manchester City’s starting lineup, after an absence that extended for two months.
The Desert Warrior’s last appearance since the start of the match dates back to last November 25, when City lost against German Bayer Leverkusen by two goals to zero.
Ait Nouri has recently moved away from his club, due to his commitment to participate with the Greens in the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
In contrast to the situation he is experiencing with his club, Ait Nouri was in the starting lineup for the national team throughout his career in Cannes, which stopped at the threshold of the quarter-finals.
The former Anji player played five matches for a total of 356 minutes on the field.
The Catalan coach, Pep Guardiola, included Ryan in a position that he was not very accustomed to, so he took over the right flank.
The Manchester City coach changed the composition of the full-backs after losing in the Manchester derby to United three days ago.
Pep fielded Englishman Nico O’Reilly on the left side, while Ait Nouri was assigned to accompany Rico Luis and Rayan Ait Charafi on the opposite side.
The English club’s mistakes in defense were repeated in the face of rapid offensive transitions, as it conceded two goals within two minutes.
What a fiery start! ⚡
Bodo Glimt stuns Manchester City with two early goals
Bodo Glimt 2️⃣ – 0️⃣ Manchester City#UEFA_Champions_League #Manchester_City pic.twitter.com/o0NiYQe67H
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 20, 2026
Manchester City suffers from several absences at the defense level, especially in the midfield.
The management was forced to strengthen its personnel with English international defender Mark Guehi, to replace the injured trio of Ruben Diaz, Yusko Gvardiol and John Stones.
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