This upcoming fixture is a repeat of last season`s Europa League semifinals, now taking place in the UEFA Champions League group stage. Tottenham travels to the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt, perhaps relieved that this match is scheduled for September rather than later in the year or even next January. When they last met in May, Ange Postecoglou`s side won both legs, and they are undoubtedly favorites to secure another victory this time around.
Postecoglou`s successor, Thomas Frank, has brought a notable degree of stability to the Tottenham squad. However, this newfound solidity might have come at the expense of the attacking sharpness that was conspicuously absent in Saturday`s 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and arguably in their opening European fixture, a 1-0 win over Villarreal. Bodo/Glimt, on the other hand, is currently engaged in a tight race for the Norwegian title in the final weeks of their domestic season, yet they commenced their Champions League journey commendably with a strong 2-2 draw against Slavia Prague.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, September 30
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Aspmyra Stadion – Bodo, Norway
- Live Stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Bodo/Glimt +210; Draw +260; Tottenham +110
Team News
Bodo/Glimt
Several key players are currently doubtful for the match against Tottenham. This list includes attacking midfielder Daniel Bassi, veteran midfielder Ulrik Saltnes, and central defender Jostein Gundersen. Nevertheless, those who are fit have had ample time to prepare, having secured a victory over Odd Grenland in the Norwegian Cup recently. Head coach Kjetil Knutsen shared his thoughts: “We played a cup match on Thursday and have used the days well. We landed in Bodo on Friday morning, gave the players Friday off, and have since focused intently on the Tottenham match. We have faced Tottenham before and feel well prepared for this challenge.”
Possible Bodo/Glimt XI: Nikita Haikin; Frederik Sjovold, Odin Bjortuft, Haitam Aleesami, Frederik Andre Bjorkan; Hakon Evjen, Patrik Berg, Sondre Auklend; Matthias Jorgensen, Kasper Hogh, Jens Peter Hauge
Tottenham
The `Spurs` continue to grapple with fitness issues among their central forwards early in the season. Randal Kolo Muani is still absent from training due to a leg injury, and Dominic Solanke has undergone surgery for a persistent ankle problem. This unfortunate situation means that Richarlison is highly likely to lead the attacking line for Tottenham in Norway. On a more positive note, Kota Takai, Ben Davies, and Yves Bissouma have all made their return to training after recovering from injuries, thereby expanding Frank`s tactical options, especially as he considers Saturday`s early game against Leeds.
Possible Tottenham XI: Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur; Mohamed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Xavi Simons; Richarlison
Prediction
This fixture should prove no less manageable for Tottenham this season than it did in their previous encounter. A diligent Bodo/Glimt might push their visitors to work hard for the result, but Thomas Frank`s squad clearly possesses the necessary quality to overcome this challenge.
Score Prediction: Bodo/Glimt 1, Tottenham 2
