Europa League: Spurs Face a Scandi Threat

Tottenham Hotspur vs Bodo/Glimt

Tottenham Hotpsur’s chance to save their season will come under scrutiny on Thursday, when a Norwegian invasion is set to descend on North London.

Hey, the Europa League match between Tottenham and Bodo/Glimt in the semi-final first leg sounds like a regulation home win doesn’t it? Well yes, until you factor in the fact that Spurs have just lost a 19^th Premier League game this season. And with 34 matches played, Ange Postecoglu’s team languishes 16^th in the Premier League table, with only West Ham United, a single point behind, separating the Whites from the bottom three.    

Kjetil Knutsen’s Bodo/Glimt have become the first Norwegian club to reach the semi-finals of a major European competition, and they are not suffering from domestic league fatigue. The Eliteserien runs from March to November, so the Glimt players are fresh and ready, though Knutsen does have selection issues with some players sidelined or doubtful.

What the Glimt boss does know is that the 11 men he sends out will give their all for the shirt, leaving nothing on the pitch. And they are a team to be wary of after they saw of Serie A giants Lazio in the quarter-finals.

Spurs came through a tough test to make the final four, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in the quarters and the Europa League 2025 betting odds say Postecoglou’s team will make a first final since 2019.

But while Spurs have just been spanked 5-1 by Premier League champions Liverpool, Bodo come into the game on the back of a 3-0 win over KFUM Oslo, a result which leaves them second in the Eliteserien.    

 

Talking Points

Can Spurs switch it on?

This has been one heck of a year for Tottenham fans who would never have believed their team would more than likely finish in the bottom six of the Premier League, but that’s where they find themselves. There has been some respite in Europe, and the Whites have a real chance of winning a first piece of silverware since their EFL Cup triumph back in 2008.

Postetcoglou made eight changes for Spurs’ clash with Liverpool, but he still had plenty of first teamers in the lineup, with Guglielmo Vicario, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Dejan Kulusevski all facing the Reds. If anything, the 5-1 loss illustrated how Spurs’ options are limited, but these are talented players and they are just underachievers in England for some reason. Admittedly, the club has suffered from injuries to key men at times, but now is the time for the Tottenham players to give their fans something to cheer.           

 

Key men missing for Glimt

This is a great time to be a Bodo/Glimt fan. They are history makers in Europe, going nicely in their domestic league and with the scalp of the mighty Lazio taken as well as beating Greek giants Olympiacos. The resilience of Knutsen’s team and organisational structure makes them difficult to beat, and they have a bite up front, led by Kasper Hogh, who has already scored seven goals in the competition.

But the Europa League 2025 news emerging from Norway gives Tottenham fans some cause for optimism. Captain and midfield general Patrick Berg has made four assists in this year’s Europa League. But Berg is suspended for this one after he picked up a yellow card against Lazio, and he’ll join Andreas Helmerson in the stands after he saw red, and that after he’d scored the crucial goal which took Lazio to a penalty shootout.

And Knutsen is sweating on the fitness of two other key players. Centre-back Odin Bjortuft limped off during the 3-0 win over KFUM with a groin strain, and he is under observation, alongside winger Ole Blomberg, who didn’t start at the weekend and is a serious doubt for Thursday.    

 

History

Bodo/Glimt are making history in Europe and, while Spurs are fast approaching two decades without a trophy, Glimt won the Norwegian League in 2023 and 2024 and are twice winners of the Norwegian Cup.

This is the first time these two teams have met. But in terms of recent form, the visitors are in better nick with four wins, one draw, and one defeat from the last six, whereas Spurs have two wins, one draw, and three defeats in that time.

Okay, the Norwegians haven’t played Liverpool in their run, but you can only beat what is in front of you and winning is a habit.  

 

Betting Tip

Spurs are at SBOTOP odds of 1.22 to take a lead to Norway, while Bodo are priced at 7.52 with the draw at 5.13, and Postecoglou’s men really should be ahead by 10pm on Thursday local time. But over the last two months, Tottenham have lost at home to Nottingham Forest and drawn with Bournemouth and Eintracht, and there will be nerves in the home stands.

I suspect Knutsen will set his team up to frustrate, which is against Glimt’s natural style. But if they are still in the tie when they head back home, it’s going to be a nail-biter for the Whites. 

   

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