Key events
Ange Postecoglou speaks to TNT Sports. “We’ve had to deal with injuries all year … [Dejan Kulusevski] is coming back at the right time because losing [Lucas Bergvall] and [James Maddison] hasn’t been great … having Kulusevski back is key for us … we like to play quick as well [as Bobø do at the Aspmyra] … we did some things really well the other night … those things will be effective tonight and that’s what we’ve got to focus on … every moment is important … I don’t think we need too much motivation … the players are aware of what is at stake … we’ve earned the right to be in this position … there’s an opportunity for us to bring it home tonight.”
How Bodø/Glimt reached the semis. They beat Porto, Braga, Beşiktaş and Maccabi Tel Aviv on their way to a ninth-placed finish in the mega-group. They saw off Twente in the knockout playoffs, the teams sharing four injury-time goals over the two-legged affair, which Bodø eventually won 6-4 on aggregate. Bodø then saw off Olympiacos in the round of 16 (4-2 agg) then Lazio in the quarters, on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw. They also gave a good account of themselves at Old Trafford during the league phase, which could end up standing them in good stead should they make it to Bilbao.
It’s been a bit smoother for Spurs. They beat Qarabağ, Ferencváros, AZ, Hoffenheim and Elfsborg during the group, finishing comfortably in fourth. They’ve since beaten AZ in the round of 16 and Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarters without too much fuss. They’ve also done themselves proud at Old Trafford this season, as well as beating Manchester United at home in both Premier League and League Cup. Long-in-the-tooth / battle-weary / cynical Spurs supporters will have their theories as to how this story is likely to end, but for now everything looks promising.
Pennant watch. First things first, hats off to Bodø/Glimt for becoming the first Norwegian club to reach the semi-final of a major international competition. A lesser-known fact is that they’re also the first club in Uefa history whose graphic designer knocked out the match pennant while keeping both of their feet up on the desk for the entirety of the job. Congratulations to one and all!
Having said that, it’s not as if the Spurs art department have been pulling out all the stops. Honestly, if either of these teams qualify for next year’s Champions League, it’s not just the manager and playing staff who will have to raise their game a level.
“Hello from Bodø!” Well hello, Jacob Steinberg! Our man in the Arctic Circle reports …
I’m in position in the press box at the Aspmyra and it’s already beginning to fill up with the yellow and black of Bodø/Glimt. The sprinklers have been on too, just to make the artificial pitch even slicker, and it’s raining. It’s not too cold and it’s still very light here in the Arctic Circle but you can feel the temperature starting to drop. There was also some top banter from the ultras last night: they let off fireworks outside the Spurs hotel in the early hours. Overall you can feel the excitement in the town. It really feels like it’s going to be a huge test of Tottenham’s character. Still, it’s six years to the day since their win over Ajax…
Bodø/Glimt make three changes to their starting XI from the first leg. Two defenders out: Isak Dybvik Määttä and Sondre Brunstad Fet. One in: Brede Moe. In midfield, captain Patrick Berg and Håkon Evjen are back in favour; Villads Nielsen, like Määttä and Fet, drops to the bench.
Tottenham make one change, and it’s enforced. The injured James Maddison is replaced by Dejan Kulusevski.
The teams
Bodø/Glimt: Haikin, Sjovold, Moe, Gundersen, Bjorkan, Evjen, Berg, Saltnes, Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge.
Subs: Lund, Nielsen, Auklend, Fet, Helmersen, Maatta, Sorli, Bro Hansen, Kjaer.
Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Kulusevski, Bissouma, Bentancur, Johnson, Solanke, Richarlison.
Subs: Danso, Tel, Gray, Spence, Odobert, Sarr, Davies, Austin, Whiteman.
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy).
VAR: Marco Di Bello (Italy).
Preamble
After last week’s efforts in N17 …
… Tottenham Hotspur have one foot in the final against (let’s go out on a limb and call it) Manchester United. However, there are reasons that give pause.
1. Ulrik Saltnes’ late goal will have given Bodø/Glimt belief
2. Ulrik Saltnes’ late goal will have planted seeds of doubt in the Spurs camp
3. Bodø/Glimt have won three of their previous four European ties in which they’ve lost the first leg away from home
4. Bodø/Glimt have already beaten Porto, Beşiktaş, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio at home during this campaign
5. This game will be played inside the Arctic Circle on an artificial pitch
6. Ange Postecoglou isn’t exactly renowned for shutting up shop
7. Lads it’s etc.
So you can pretty much guarantee that very few Spurs fans will be taking this for granted. But their team are in the box seat, and have the following going for them: they’ve won all five of their previous matches against Norwegian clubs; they’ve won their two most recent European semis (against Hajduk Split in the 1983-84 Uefa Cup and Ajax in the 2018-19 Champions League); they’ve won 18 of their previous 21 Uefa ties when winning the first leg at home; they’ve proved they can do solid with a battling 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarters; they’ve only lost two of their last 14 games in Europe; they’ve scored more goals (340) than any other team in Uefa Cup and Europa League history; and Ange Postecoglou isn’t exactly renowned for shutting up shop, so will go for the early goal that will surely kill off this tie.
We make that 7-7, then. Which would be more than enough to see Spurs through on aggregate. Kick-off is at 9pm in Bodø, 8pm BST. It’s on!
