FK Bodø/Glimt: European Cup miracle against Tottenham?

Jan Age Fjörtoft has already advised the Tottenham Hotspur stars to dress warmly. They should remember to bring hats and gloves, the former Norwegian international and former Frankfurt striker wrote on social media.

Despite the 3-1 win in the first leg, things could still get uncomfortable – and quite cold – for the English team in their Europa League semi-final second leg against FK Bodö/Glimt on Thursday (9 p.m./RTL+). Glimt – the Norwegian word for lightning – can also be translated as lightning. Will it strike Spurs as well?

Bodö/Glimt – the small club from the northern Norwegian province of Nordland is the big sensation of the current European Cup season. And exceptional in many ways: from their dazzling gold and yellow jerseys, to their artificial turf arena with a capacity of just under 8,000 spectators, to the stadium journeys that sometimes take less than a minute.

The club from the small town of Bodø, with a population of less than 50,000, is the first Norwegian representative ever to reach a European Cup semifinal. Will the second duel with Tottenham be the final chapter of this extraordinary success story for the time being? Or will there be another football miracle, and perhaps even a truly happy ending in the final on May 21 in Bilbao?

"It's clear that we have to perform at the highest level," said captain Ulrik Saltnes, who scored the 3-1 goal in the closing stages of the first leg, thus somewhat improving the underdog's starting position. "The opportunities are there," said Jens Petter Hauge, whom at least some German fans might still recognize from his brief time at Eintracht Frankfurt.

There are no major stars in coach Kjetil Knutsen's team. The market value of the entire squad is estimated at around €40 million. By comparison, Spurs' is just under €840 million. It's the oft-quoted David and Goliath duel. But by no means the first for the "yellow horde."

FC Porto, Besiktas Istanbul, Twente Enschede, Olympiacos Piraeus – the list of clubs that have lost to the Norwegian underdog in this competition is impressive. Most recently, Lazio Rome was beaten in the quarterfinals. The Italians also felt the effects of Bodø/Glimt's home strength, losing first on the road and ultimately losing on penalties.

What makes the fortress of Aspmyra Stadium so special? The cold. Even in May, temperatures in the far north of the country are sometimes just above freezing. The artificial turf, unfamiliar to many opponents. Perhaps also the provincial environment. Bodö/Glimt's players usually simply walk the short distance to the stadium. Before the match against Porto, they traveled the 200 meters from the assembly point to the arena by bus at UEFA's request.

One thing is certain: Bodö/Glimt has made a name for itself. The club already dominates the domestic league, just like former top clubs Rosenborg Trondheim and Viking Stavanger once did. In the past five years, FK has celebrated four championship titles. Its popularity is also growing outside of Norway – primarily, but not exclusively, due to this season, which began with the Champions League qualifiers and in which Bodö/Glimt has already played 21 international matches.

The club made a special statement in October 2021: Back then, the underdog defeated AS Roma and their then coach José Mourinho 6-1 in the group stage of the Conference League.

Is there another moment of glory at the Arctic Circle? Spurs are the favorites, said TV expert Fjörtoft after the first leg. But: "Bodö/Glimt has a good chance to turn the game around. Because even the Tottenham players will start to think about the disadvantages in Bodö." And as we know, those have already been the downfall of many top-class players.

RND/dpa