Why Are Ruben Dias & Bernardo Silva Not Playing Against Bodø/Glimt?

Manchester City travelled to the Arctic Circle this Tuesday to face Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt in a pivotal UEFA Champions League fixture. Bodø/Glimt vs Man City promises high drama on artificial turf. While Pep Guardiola’s side aims to cement a top-eight finish in the league phase, preparations for Bodø/Glimt vs Man City have been derailed by a severe personnel crisis. The treble winners will take to the Aspmyra Stadion without several key starters, including Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, raising urgent questions like Is Ruben Dias playing today and why is Bernardo Silva not playing?

Are Ruben Dias, Gvardiol & Stones Playing Today?

Is Ruben Dias playing today? No, Ruben Dias is definitely out of Bodø/Glimt vs Man City as he continues recovery from a significant hamstring injury. The Portuguese center-back sustained the muscle problem during the 1-1 draw against Chelsea earlier in January. The prognosis was immediate and frustrating for City fans, with Guardiola confirming his defensive leader faces a four-to-six-week layoff.

Is Ruben Dias playing today remains a top fan search, but his absence leaves a gaping hole in City's defence, already stretched thin. With the Croatian defender Josko Gvardiol sidelined by a leg fracture and John Stones battling fitness issues, the backline for Bodø/Glimt vs Man City will be far from first choice. Dias is not expected back in first-team action until late February 2026, forcing Guardiola to rethink tactics against Bodø/Glimt's high-pressing style.

Why Is Bernardo Silva Not Playing?

Why is Bernardo Silva not playing in Bodø/Glimt vs Man City? Unlike his injured teammates, Bernardo Silva is fully fit but unavailable due to UEFA disciplinary rules. The Manchester City captain picked up a yellow card in the previous Champions League fixture, his third caution of the league phase triggering an automatic one-match suspension under UEFA regulations.

Why is Bernardo Silva not playing boils down to this ban, which applies only to European competition, so he stayed in Man City while the squad headed to Norway for Bodø/Glimt vs Man City. He'll return for City’s next domestic game, but Pep Guardiola must improvise in midfield, replacing the Portuguese playmaker's relentless energy and control against Bodø/Glimt's dynamic attack.

Manchester City’s Travelling Squad

To battle the absences in Bodø/Glimt vs Man City, Pep Guardiola named a makeshift 21-man squad leaning on youth. Senior stars out means academy call-ups like teenage defenders Kian Noble and Stephen Mfuni, midfielder Divine Mukasa, and forward Tyrone Samba. Max Alleyne, recalled from his Watford loan, joins Abdukodir Khusanov in potential defensive roles. Manchester City injury crisis has made things difficult for them in the domestic league recently. Will they face the same situation in the UCL, or has Pep planned something to tackle it?

• Squad for UCL game against Bodø/Glimt: Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford, Marcus Bettinelli; Nathan Ake, Rico Lewis, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov, Max Alleyne, Kian Noble, Stephen Mfuni; Rodri, Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Nico O’Reilly, Charlie Gray, Divine Mukasa; Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, Omar Marmoush, Tyrone Samba

Recent signings Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi cannot feature due to registration issues. The January arrivals are ineligible under UEFA rules for this phase and cannot join the Champions League squad until next month's knockout rounds, limiting Guardiola's attacking options in Bodø/Glimt vs Man City.