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


We have all the pre-match preamble you need ahead of Roma’s trip to Norway as they seek redemption over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League on Thursday (kick-off: 21:00 CEST).

BODO/GLIMT

League position: 9th
Head coach: Kjetil Knutsen
UECL top scorer: Ola Solbakken (6)


RECENT FORM

BODO/GLIMT: W W D W D
ROMA: W D D W W

Much has changed at the Norwegian club since Roma suffered their now-infamous defeat at the hands of Bodo in the group stage.

They have been crowned domestic champions in 2021 and even begun their 2022 campaign, while star striker Erik Botheim - who scored in both ties against the Giallorossi - is no longer at the club.

As for Roma, they still topped Group C above Bodo, and are now nine games unbeaten in all competitions after back-to-back league wins over both Lazio and Sampdoria.

Jose Mourinho will be eager to right his side’s wrong from their previous visit to the Aspmyra Stadion and, bar Leonardo Spinazzola and Nicolo Zaniolo, the Portuguese coach has a full squad to choose from.


Possible Bodo/Glimt line-up

(4-3-3)

Haikin; Sampsted, Moe, Holbraten, Wembangomo; Saltnes, Hagen, Vetlesen; Solbakken, Espejord, Pellegrino


LAST MEETING

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DANGER MAN
Ola Solbakken

Botheim scored twice and set up three goals in Bodo’s home victory over Roma and was also on target at the Stadio Olimpico, but the highly talented striker moved to Russia in the winter and has since seen his career stalled by the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Knutsen replaced Botheim with Runar Espejord from domestic rivals Tromso and it will be the 26-year-old that spearheads the attack.

In support of him will be possibly Bodo’s two most potent attackers; Amahl Pellegrino and Solbakken.

The latter has six goals and two assists in the UECL alone this term and will pose a serious threat from the right.

MATCH STATS

The hosts are the first Norwegian team to reach the quarter-finals of continental competition since Valerenga in 1998-99, while Roma are in the last eight of a UEFA tournament for a second successive season.

Bodo’s win over Roma in Norway was their biggest European victory in their history, and they are unbeaten in their last 13 games, including qualifiers, in Europe (W8, D5).

Meanwhile, the Giallorossi’s 18-game run without European defeat outstrips Bodo’s record by five games.

Tammy Abraham’s goal against Vitesse in the second leg of the last round meant Roma became the first Italian team to score in 22 consecutive games in Europe.

PLAYER STATS

  • No Norwegian player has scored more goals in a single UEFA club competition than Solbakken (six) has this term.
  • But he still trails Abraham as this term’s UECL top scorer (seven).
  • Rick Karsdorp and Zaniolo and both provided four assists in the UECL, a number that no other player in the competition has bettered in 2021-22 so far.

WHAT THEY SAID

"I finally get the chance to play against them. They won't be looking forward to coming to Aspmyra. Some people might have wanted a different team, but I don’t think we should be disappointed."

- Bodo/Glimt captain Ulrik Saltnes on facing Roma after missing the two previous meetings through injury