Opta Focus: What to know about the Bodo/Glimt threat

Top of the Eliteserien, the best defence in their domestic league and second-best defence in the Conference League.

Under no circumstances should Roma underestimate their next European opponents, Bodo/Glimt.

The Giallorossi head into this Conference League clash following victories over CSKA Sofia and Zorya. While Bodo also managed to overcome Zorya, they could only muster a 0-0 draw away in Sofia.

Jose Mourinho's side are undoubtedly favourites, but they’ll have to be on their guard, especially given how Kjetil Knutsen's men have fared at home.

If you take into account both the qualifiers and the competition proper, Bodo/Glimt have won their last four home matches in European competitions, the best streak in the club’s history.

What’s more, in all but one of those games the Norwegians kept a clean sheet.

Bodo can boast of having the most watertight defence and being the stingiest at giving away chances in Norway

Resolute defence and aerial threats: the Norwegians’ key strengths

Conference League Matchday 3 sees Group C’s best attack up against one of the competition’s tightest defences. Roma have scored eight goals, more than any other side in the competition, while Bodo/Glimt have so far only conceded once. Only Gent and Partizan boast better figures, with neither side yet to concede so far in the tournament.

Beyond the aforementioned there are two other noteworthy stats which highlight what Knutsen's team are all about. They have only conceded their opponents three shots on goal in the competition, a record bettered solely by Copenhagen. This bodes well for facing Lorenzo Pellegrini and co., who’ve already recorded 17 shots on goal in two matches. When it comes to attacking, the Norwegians specialise in aerial play, having scored ten headers so far in the domestic league out of a total of 46 goals.

Erik Botheim without Ulrik Saltnes, still Bodo/Glimt’s principal marksman

In view of the upcoming two meetings with the Norwegians, there’s no doubt that Roma will have done their homework on Erik Botheim and Ulrik Saltnes.

21-year-old Botheim is currently leading the scoring charts at Bodo with 13 goals in 22 appearances to his name. Five of these goals came from headers, making him the most prolific aerial threat in the division.

He’s in great form at the moment, having found the net four times and provided one assist in the last five Eliteserien matches.

Midfield maestro Saltnes would have also posed a headache for Mourinho’s men. Beyond his seven league strikes the 28-year-old can claim to be one of only two midfielders to have scored a header in the 2021-22 Conference League.

What’s more, his total of two headed goals between the qualifiers and the competition proper make him the deadliest midfield marksman from aerial play.

But an injury sustained against CSKA Sofia last time out means Saltnes will miss Thursday's meeting - and it will be up to Mourinho to work out how the opposition react to that absence.