Tuesday night marks a UEFA Champions League group stage encounter between Tottenham Hotspur and Bodo/Glimt, a rematch of last season`s Europa League semifinals. Tottenham journeys to the Arctic Circle to face their Norwegian opponents, likely appreciating the September timing of the fixture rather than a colder, later date. In their previous meeting in May, Ange Postecoglou`s team secured victory in both legs and enters this match as strong favorites.
Despite a perceived trade-off between stability and attacking sharpness—evidenced by their recent 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal in their European opener—Thomas Frank, Postecoglou`s successor, has instilled a sense of solidity in the Tottenham squad. Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt, amidst their pursuit of the Norwegian title, commenced their Champions League journey commendably with a 2-2 draw against Slavia Prague.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, September 30
- Kick-off Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Venue: Aspmyra Stadion, Bodo, Norway
Team News
Bodo/Glimt: Several key players for Bodo/Glimt are uncertain for the clash with Tottenham, including attacking midfielder Daniel Bassi, experienced midfielder Ulrik Saltnes, and center-back Jostein Gundersen. However, those available have had ample preparation time following their recent Norwegian Cup victory against Odd Grenland.
Coach Kjetil Knutsen stated, “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 on the Tottenham match. We have faced Tottenham before and feel well prepared.”
Possible Bodo/Glimt Starting 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: Tottenham faces ongoing challenges with striker fitness early in the season. Randal Kolo Muani remains out of training due to a leg injury, and Dominic Solanke has had ankle surgery. This likely means Richarlison will spearhead the attack in Norway. Positively, Kota Takai, Ben Davies, and Yves Bissouma have all returned to training, providing manager Thomas Frank with more options, especially with an eye on Saturday`s upcoming match against Leeds.
Possible Tottenham Starting 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
Tottenham is expected to find this encounter as manageable as their previous meetings. While a determined Bodo/Glimt could pose a challenge and force their visitors to exert effort, manager Thomas Frank has the necessary quality within his squad to secure a win. Predicted Score: Bodo/Glimt 1, Tottenham 2.
