It may have looked like a mere consolation at the time, but Ulrik Saltnes’ late goal in the first leg has given Bodø/Glimt a lifeline in their maiden UEFA Europa League (UEL) semi-final. His strike cut Tottenham’s advantage to 3-1, offering the Norwegian side a glimmer of hope ahead of the return leg in Bodø.
Despite losing both legs to English opposition in this UEL campaign—most recently 3-2 at Manchester United—Bodø/Glimt’s home form could inspire confidence. The team is riding a six-game winning streak at home in all competitions in 2025, with each victory coming by at least two goals. That includes three wins in the UEL knockout stages, one of which was a 2-0 triumph over Italian giants Lazio.
While the odds remain stacked against them, history and home advantage offer a route forward. No Norwegian men’s club has ever reached a UEFA final, but Bodø/Glimt’s pattern of away defeats followed by dominant home wins keeps the dream alive.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has reason for optimism but also injury concerns. James Maddison, one of the scorers in the first leg, is unlikely to travel due to injury. However, Dominic Solanke is expected to return after a rest, and Son Heung-min’s availability remains in question despite his recent return to training.
This won’t be Postecoglou’s first trip to Bodø—he previously endured a 2-0 defeat there while managing Celtic in 2022. Spurs also lost that tie 5-1 on aggregate, but the current campaign has shown more resilience, with Tottenham yet to lose any match by a two-goal margin in this season’s UEL.
Key players to watch include Ulrik Saltnes, whose goal in the first leg and brace against Lazio prove he’s capable of delivering under pressure. For Spurs, Brennan Johnson poses an early threat, having set a new record with the fastest goal in UEL semi-final history (39 seconds) and netting three other goals in the competition—all before half-time.
Hot stat: Tottenham have advanced from 18 of their last 21 UEFA knockout ties when winning the first leg—a record Bodø/Glimt must defy if they are to write Norwegian football history.
