At Tottenham Hotspur, Bodö/Glims collected a 1: 3 (0: 2)-Hinklay defeat in the Europa League semi-final. A kind of miracle is now needed for the Norwegian outsider.
After 38 seconds, the Bodö/Glimt players looked at their own on Thursday (01.05.2025). The outsiders from Norway had traveled to Tottenham Hotspur with such great hopes for the semi -final first leg of the Europa League – and then they were already gone before the game really started.
The Norwegians lost the ball in the structure and the Spurs played forward immediately. Pedro Porros flank from the right was found on the long post of Richarlison, which perfectly turned on the ball for Brennan Johnson, who had no trouble turning to 1-0. A deep blow for Bodö, from which the team was difficult to recover.
Tottenham – physically superior
What was also due to the fact that Tottenham played as well as freed in the first section with the guidance in the back. The Spurs absolutely want to save their messed up season via the Europa League – with the title win, they could move into the longed -for Champions League, so to speak.
Bodö tried, but the offensive efforts repeatedly crashed into the physical superiority of the players from the Premier League. Which shouldn’t be so surprised. Transfer market experts have calculated that eight players in Tottenham’s squad each have a higher transfer value than the entire Bodö team.
The Londoners took their chances. The 2-0 defender Porro initiated again. His long ball landed precisely at James Maddison, who sank the ball from the turn of the second goal (34th). After an hour of play, Dominic Solanke converted a penalty to 3: 0.
Enormous home strength from Bodö/Glimt
Measured by the events of this evening, this should actually be sealed by Bodö/Glimt. If it weren’t for the special story of this outsider, who was the first Norwegian team to reach the semi -finals of the Europa League. Especially at home in their only 8,000 spectators in the 43,000-inhabitant city of Bodö, the Norwegians have shown an almost scary strength. And for years.
After promoting the first Norwegian league 2018, coach Kjetil Knutsen took over the team. The 56-year-old vaccinated a merciless offensive system for his people, with which he then not only celebrated five national championships, but also surprised high-ranking European competition.
Bodo/Glimt players celebrate their move into the Europa League semi-final
A lot of courage in the far north of Norway
The lot started in October 2021 when the Norwegians surprised with a spectacular 6-1 about AS Rome with the eccentric coach José Mourinho. After that, successes against heavyweights of European football such as Celtic Glasgow, FC Porto and Beşiktaş Istanbul and finally this year the sensational triumph over Lazio Rome.
The fact that such things are possible can be explained on the one hand with the courageous style of play by Knutsen’s team. On the other hand, it can also be uncomfortable for foreign teams high up in the north to express it carefully.
Art turf with snow until April
Because the strict weather hardly allows a natural grass in terms of vegetation, there is artificial turf in the small stadium of Bodö. And that was covered with half a meter of snow the day before the game against Lazio in April.
In this environment, Bodö is capable of some – and mostly makes his footballing high flight with players who were raised from their own youth. Midfield engine Patrick Berg is one of those, his fellow man Ulrik Saltnes too. Berg was missing in London yellow, Bodö could not compensate for his failure at the Spurs.
Jens -Petter Haug – blossomed after Frankfurt-Gast game
But mountain will be there again in the second leg. Just like Jens-Petter Haug, who, after his hapless guest appearance at Eintracht Frankfurt, has blossomed again in the far north of Norway. And even on the messed up evening in London there was almost something like a happy ending. Ulrik Saltnes scored the 1-3 goal in the 82nd minute.
Tottenham will nevertheless be able to go into the second leg with a good starting point. But write off? No, that should not be the “yellow horde”, as the Bodö team is called lovingly.