Norwegian champions FK Bodø/Glimt face a pivotal moment in their European campaign as they prepare to host FC Twente in Thursday’s Europa League knockout playoff second leg. Trailing 2-1 after a stoppage-time collapse in the Netherlands last week, the Arctic Circle club aims to leverage their formidable home record at Aspmyra Stadion to advance to the round of 16.
Northern Norway’s Football Powerhouse
Fresh off securing their fourth Eliteserien title in five years (2020, 2021, 2023, 2024), Bodø/Glimt continue rewriting Norwegian football history . The club’s high-octane attacking style – which produced a league-record 103 goals in their 2020 championship season – has translated well to European competitions under manager Kjetil Knutsen .
Europa League Redemption Arc
Last Thursday’s first-leg defeat marked a rare setback for Glimt, who dominated possession (63%) but conceded a 95th-minute winner to Twente’s Ricky van Wolfswinkel . Captain Ulrik Saltnes told reporters: “We showed we can compete with Europe’s best – now we must finish the job where we’re strongest.”
The Norwegian side boasts an impressive 13 wins from 16 home matches this season across all competitions . Their European pedigree includes memorable victories over Roma (6-1) and Celtic during their 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinal run .
Tactical Chess Match Ahead
Twente manager Joseph Oosting warned: “Aspmyra’s artificial turf and arctic conditions make this our toughest test yet.” Glimt’s winter preparations included specialized cold-weather training drills perfected during Norway’s −15°C winters.
Key battles will feature:
- Albert Grønbæk vs. Mathias Kjølø: Glimt’s creative midfielder (8 goals this season) faces Twente’s defensive anchor
- Runar Espejord vs. Robin Pröpper: The Norwegian striker seeks breakthroughs against Eredivisie’s third-stingiest defense
Legacy on the Line
A victory would cement Bodø/Glimt’s status as Scandinavia’s most consistent European performers – they’ve qualified for continental competitions in five consecutive seasons since 2020 . With Norway climbing UEFA’s country coefficients, another deep run could secure additional Champions League qualification spots for Norwegian clubs.
The match kicks off Thursday at 18:45 local time (17:45 GMT), with temperatures expected near −7°C – conditions Glimt players jokingly call “perfect football weather.”
