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The Match Pack: Bodo/Glimt preview, form guide, stats and more


With Roma travelling to Norway to face Bodo/Glimt on Thursday (kick-off: 18:45 CEST), we have all the pre-match preamble you need.

BODO/GLIMT

League position: 1st
Head coach: Kjetil Knutsen
Top-scorer: Erik Botheim (13)


RECENT FORM

Bodo/Glimt: W W W W W
Roma: W L W W L

Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt have just eight games left of their domestic campaign, and sit three points clear as they look to back up their first ever Norwegian championship with a second successive title.

Before they can do so, they host the Giallorossi in a meeting between Group C’s top two, who both remain unbeaten after two UEFA Europa Conference League matchdays.

Roma top the group with two wins from two and victory here will put them on the brink of advancing to the knockouts.

Jose Mourinho is expected to make changes to the side that were beaten by Juventus on Sunday and with a meeting with table topping Napoli on the horizon.


Possible Bodo/Glimt Luhansk line-up

(4-3-3)

Halkin; Sampsted, Lode, Halraten, Bjorkan; Fet, Berg, Konradsen; Solbakken, Botheim, Pellegrino


DANGER MAN
Erik Botheim

Signed from rivals Stabaek in the off season - despite not having scored in 15 appearances over the course of the 2020 campaign - Botheim has been a revelation this term.

The 21-year-old has 13 goals in 22 league games in 2021 and scored in both Champions League and Europa Conference League qualifying.

He’s yet to find the back of the net in two group games but Botheim did tee up Ola Solbakken for the second goal in his side’s 3-1 victory over Zorya on MD1.

People may also remember Botheim for his 2016 appearance alongside then Norway Under-18 teammates Erling Haaland and Erik Tobias Sandberg - who made up the group ‘Flow Kingz’ - in a video for their song Kygo jo that has since racked up over eight million views.

MATCH STATS

This will be the first competitive match between these two teams, while Bodo/Glimt have lost six of their seven matches against Italian teams in Europe. Roma were victorious the only previous time they faced a Norwegian opponent, beating Tromso 2-1 in 2005.

Roma have won five of their last six games in the group stage of European competition, with each victory coming by a margin of at least two goals.

Bodo/Glimt have won their last four home games in Europe, while the Giallorossi have also won each of their last five games in all UEFA competitions.

Roma have scored at least two goals in each of their last six away games in European competition, and only Inter Milan (in 2020) have ever managed to score in more successive matches of any teams from Italy.

PLAYER STATS

  • Roma have the most players with at least two goals in the UECL; Lorenzo Pellegrini, Stephan El Shaarawy and Tammy Abraham.
  • Abraham has scored in each of his two UECL appearances so far.
  • El Shaarawy has had more shots (five) than any other player in the group stage so far, while the home side’s Ulrik Saltnes - who misses out through injury - is one of three players with more than one header (two) on target.

WHAT THEY SAID

"We are facing a great team with excellent individual players. How well we deal with that, we will only get an answer tomorrow, but there is still a lot to learn. We have prepared well and are looking forward to it. If we do our best, we have a good chance. The fans will see Bodo/Glimt as they are used to seeing us, that is, trying to take the initiative."

- Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen