Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale Champions League run comes to end against Sporting
Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run to a knockout looked unlikely after failing to win their first six league games, meaning they needed results against Manchester City and Atletico to qualify for the play-offs.
And despite everything, they provided these.
The 3-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s men brought the attention and admiration it deserved, but Bodo’s 2-1 win over Atleti in Madrid to qualify for the play-offs was not a one-off.
Knutsen’s team lost to Spurs in the Europa League semi-final last season, becoming the first Norwegian team to reach the last four of a major European competition.
The key to their success has often been their ability to make home games as challenging as possible.
Bodo in northern Norway can often be extremely cold, snowy and windy during the long winter months; Temperatures may drop to minus figures.
Difficult weather conditions force the team to play on an artificial pitch made of plastic, and many sides accustomed to playing on grass are struggling to cope.
These aspects, combined with the players’ determination and strong belief in their abilities, mean that many have defeated Bodo.
The team, which defeated Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 at home in the Conference League five years ago, has also defeated Celtic, Beşiktaş, Porto and Lazio in recent years.
Bodo have emerged from the Champions League by winning their last three home games (beating out Manchester City, Inter Milan and Sporting) and will look to their home record to serve them well once again in their next European football match.
