Tottenham Hotspur is set to face Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League group stage on Tuesday night, a rematch of last season`s Europa League semifinals. The North London club, likely appreciative that this fixture falls in September rather than the colder months, will travel to the Arctic Circle. Under Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham secured victories in both legs of their previous encounters in May and are expected to be the favorites once more.
Despite a recent 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers and a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal in their initial European fixture, Thomas Frank, Postecoglou`s successor, has brought a notable stability to the Tottenham squad. Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt is in a tight race for the Norwegian championship as their season nears its end, yet they commenced their Champions League journey impressively with a 2-2 draw against Slavia Prague.
Viewing Information
- Date: Tuesday, Sep. 30
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Aspmyra Stadion — Bodo, Norway
- Live Stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Bodo/Glimt +210; Draw +260; Tottenham +110
Team News
Bodo/Glimt:
For Bodo/Glimt, several key players are questionable for the upcoming match against Tottenham, including attacking midfielder Daniel Bassi, experienced midfielder Ulrik Saltnes, and central defender Jostein Gundersen. Nevertheless, the fit players have had ample preparation time following their recent Norwegian Cup victory against Odd Grenland.
“We played a cup match on Thursday and have used the days well,” said head coach Kjetil Knutsen. “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.”
Anticipated 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 continues to face challenges with their central strikers` fitness early in the season. Randal Kolo Muani remains out of training due to a leg injury, and Dominic Solanke has undergone surgery for a persistent ankle problem. Consequently, Richarlison is expected to lead the attack in Norway. However, there`s positive news as Kota Takai, Ben Davies, and Yves Bissouma have all returned to training, providing manager Thomas Frank with more tactical flexibility, especially with an early Saturday fixture against Leeds on the horizon.
Anticipated 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 anticipated to find this encounter as manageable as their previous meetings. While a determined Bodo/Glimt could certainly challenge them, manager Thomas Frank possesses the necessary squad depth and quality.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Bodo/Glimt 1, Tottenham 2
