Lazio are staring down the barrel of a Europa League exit as they prepare to host Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt in the second leg of their quarter-final tie. A 2-0 defeat in the first leg means the Italian side must achieve something they’ve never done before in European competition: overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit.
This is Lazio’s first European quarter-final appearance in seven years, but the odds are stacked against them. Historically, the Biancocelesti have been eliminated in 12 of their last 15 European ties after losing the first leg, regardless of margin. Their current form hardly inspires confidence either, with Marco Baroni’s men winning just once in their last seven matches across all competitions (D4, L2)—the latest setback being a 1-1 draw in the heated Derby della Capitale against Roma.
Still, hope lingers at the Stadio Olimpico, where Lazio boast a 13-match unbeaten run in the Europa League (W7, D6). The home crowd will demand a spirited fightback, and history offers a sliver of optimism—the same stadium saw Bodø/Glimt collapse 4-0 to Roma in a European quarter-final second leg in 2022.
But this Bodø/Glimt side look a more seasoned outfit. Kjetil Knutsen’s men come into the tie on the back of four consecutive victories without conceding, including the first-leg triumph in Norway. They’ve now won seven of their last nine two-legged European ties and are on the cusp of making history by becoming the first-ever Norwegian club to reach the semi-finals of a UEFA competition.
Even so, Bodø/Glimt’s away record remains a cause for concern. They’ve failed to win any of their six visits to Italy (D1, L5) and have lost three of their last four UEL away fixtures—albeit all by just a single goal. Holding their nerve in the Olimpico cauldron will be their ultimate test.
Players to Watch:
- Pedro (Lazio): The veteran winger has been pivotal in Lazio’s European campaign, with his team winning by two or more goals in three of his four UEL scoring appearances this season.
- Ulrik Saltnes (Bodø/Glimt): The midfielder was the hero in the first leg, netting a crucial brace. Remarkably, his team has never lost in any of the last 55 matches he’s scored in (W47, D8).
Hot Stat: Only 10 of the 154 teams who have won the first leg of a UEFA Europa League knockout tie by two or more goals have failed to progress.
As the Stadio Olimpico braces for a tense night of European football, Lazio will need to defy both history and form. Bodø/Glimt, meanwhile, stand just 90 minutes away from making their own.
