In the Champions League the money scores the goals, but there are still surprises. So FK Bodö/Glimt is in the second round, Italian champions Naples are out. Fredrik Sjövold now has to postpone his vacation.
In August, FK Bodö Glimt celebrated the greatest success in the club’s history. After playoffs-The small club from Norway qualified for the first time by winning against Sturm Graz Champions League.
Wins against Man City and Atletico Madrid
There was little confidence in the club from the city of 43,500 inhabitants in the Arctic Circle in the concert of the big boys. And by the end of November it looked as if the adventure was over again. Coach Kjetil Knutsen’s team sold themselves dearly in a 3-2 defeat at Juventus Turin on matchday 5, but were still without a win and slipped to 32nd place in the table.
But then the Norwegians turned up the heat. They drew 2-2 at Borussia Dortmund and sent off almost sensationally Manchester City home with 3-1 and then surprisingly won the league final with 2-1 at Atletico Madrid – after being 0-1 behind. FK climbed to 23rd place in the table, is now in the intermediate round and is happily continuing to work on its success story. The team’s own players seemed to have least expected the victory: goalscorer Fredrik Sjövold had already booked a holiday in Gran Canaria. It is now canceled: “Nothing will come of this now. I have to cancel everything. I didn’t have a huge belief in it, but this shows what we can achieve together.”
Qarabag also continues, Pafos narrowly fails
FC Pafos narrowly missed out on another sensation: after a highly controversial red card issued by German referee Tobias Stieler, the Cypriots won 4-1 against Slavia Prague, but in 26th place the debutants were missing two more goals for the next round.
So they still exist, these almost pleasant surprises in the Champions League. Qarabag FK from Azerbaijan is also in the intermediate round.
Italy’s champions Naples failed
Much larger and more renowned clubs like Olympique Marseillethe PSV EindhovenFC Copenhagen and Ajax Amsterdam were eliminated. And three teams from the big leagues were also affected. The FC Villarreal (currently fourth in Spain’s La Liga), Athletic Bilbao and, almost sensationally, the Italian champions SSC Napoli. And of course the weak Frankfurt Eintracht from the Bundesliga.
English Premier League dominates
There are five English teams among the eight round of 16 teams so far Premier League standing is not really surprising – but rather frightening. The horrendous TV income alone has lifted the island’s clubs to a new level financially in international comparison. That’s why it has to do with it Tottenham Hotspur even table 14th. made it straight to the round of 16.
Also Defending champion Paris has to go to the second round
FC Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona and – this is also surprising – Sporting Lisbon are also there. The Portuguese have their city rivals Benfica to thank for this, with star coach Jose Mourinho, who won 4-2 at home against Real Madrid. The “Royal” now have to go into the playoffs in ninth place, just like defending champions Paris Saint GermainInter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Juventus Turin.
Bodö Glimt now against Real or Inter
It may be that things will improve again in the second round. FK Bodö Glimt, for example, will face either Real Madrid or Inter Milan. And Qarabag FK is also against Paris Saint-Germain or Newcastle United just outsiders.
