Home strength leads to emphatic win?
The football-free period in large parts of Europe is gradually drawing to a close. The national championships are still largely in the summer break, but this week the whistle blows for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
Twenty-six of the 32 teams have already been selected, and the six remaining starters will be determined by the end of August. Among others, the Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt and Klaksvik from the Faroe Islands will face each other on Wednesday evening.
The Norwegian title holders made a big splash last season, enjoying great success in the newly created UEFA Europa Conference League. Now the dream of the top flight is alive, and at least the first hurdle should not be a problem. The bookmakers are offering odds of 1.10 on a home win in the clash between Bodo/Glimt and Klakvsik, and it should be a relatively one-sided game on the artificial turf at the Aspmyra Stadium.
While many other teams in the qualifiers are in the midst of preparation, these two teams at least have the advantage of a championship by calendar year and are therefore in the middle of the season. Wednesday night’s match in Norway kicks off at 6pm.
Bodo/Glimt – Statistics & current form
In recent years, the team from the north of Norway has been the benchmark on the national stage. In 2019, the club were runners-up, and in 2020 and 2021, Kjetil Knudsen’s side claimed the first two championships in the club’s history. However, Bodo/Glimt not only made a splash nationally, but also on the international stage.
In the UEFA Europa Conference League, they defeated AS Roma 6-1 in the group stage. At the beginning of April, the Romans visited Bodo again and were defeated in the quarter-final first leg (2:1), and the dream of reaching the semi-finals was shattered for the underdogs in the return leg (0:4).
This clear defeat in the eternal city of Rome was the only defeat for Bodo/Glimt in the entire Conference League season. In total, the Knudsen eleven played no less than 20 international matches (!) in the 2021/22 season.
Defence of title will be difficult
This multitude of games was an enormous burden for the players of the champions. The focus was of course on the historic opportunity on the international stage and the results in the domestic championship were accordingly. After twelve completed games, Bodo/Glimt are currently in sixth place in the league with only 19 points. The gap to the current league leader Lilleström is already eleven points, a third title win in a row is almost impossible as things stand today.
The dress rehearsal for the first international appearance this year ended with a 2:3 defeat at Odds BK. Once again, the champions lost at home, their third defeat away from home this season. On their home turf, however, their record is much better, with four wins and two draws. In addition to the much higher quality in the squad, the home strength is another argument that between Bodo/Glimt and Klakvsik the prediction for the clear home victory is justified.
Predicted line-up of Bodo/Glimt:
Haikin – Wembangomo, Höibraten, Moe, Sampsted – Vetlesen, Hagen, Saltnes – Pellegrino, Espejord, Solbakken
Last games of Bodo/Glimt:
Elite Series
02/07/2022 – Odds Ballklubb 3 – 2 Bodö/Glimt
Cup
30/06/2022 – Vaalerenga 0 – 1 Bodö/Glimt
Elite Series
26/06/2022 – Bodö/Glimt 2 – 0 Aalesund
Cup
22/06/2022 – Harstad 0 – 5 Bodö/Glimt
Elite Series
18/06/2022 – Kristiansund BK 0 – 2 Bodö/Glimt
Klaksvik – Statistics & current form
While Bodo/Glimt have only become the dominators of national football in recent years, KI Klaksvik have held that role for longer. KI Klaksvik have won 19 championships, only the capital club HB Torshavn has won the title more often (24 championships).
KI Klaksvik achieved a historic success in the 2020/21 season, becoming the first team from the Faroe Islands to qualify for the playoffs of an international competition. Thanks to a sensational 6:1 win against Dinamo Tbilisi, the glaring underdogs reached the final qualifying round for the group stage of the Europa League. A 1:3 against Dundalk from Ireland prevented them from making their debut on the big stage.
Nationally, Klaksvik will not be challenged
However, postponed is not abandoned and head coach Mikkjal Thomassen’s team will make their next attempt this season. As current champions, the team will start in the CL qualifiers, and would be able to continue in the Europa League and then the Conference League in the event of failure.
At least the guest should not lack self-confidence. The championship is also played on a calendar year basis and Klaksik have played 18 competitive games so far this year. The more than impressive record shows 17 wins, only in the top match against Vikingur did the designated champions have to settle for a goalless draw. With 43 points from 15 games, winning the title again is only a matter of time, the lead over Vikingur is currently six points. Goalkeeper Rosenörn has made only four saves in 15 league games. In addition to the 14 wins in the championship, there are two victories in the national cup and a success in the Supercup.
Despite these clear successes at national level, Klaksvik are considered to have no chance in the duel with the Norwegian champions. At times, odds of over 25.00 are offered between Bodo/Glimt and Klaksvik for betting on the visitors.
Predicted line-up of Klaksvik:
Rosenörn – Da Silva, Brinck, Vatnsdal, Joensen – Mikkelsen, Andreasen – Bjartalid, Kronberg, Sabala – Klettskard
Last matches played by Klaksvik:
Premier League
30/06/2022 – Klaksvik 4 – 2 NSI Runavik
25/06/2022 – HB Torshavn 1 – 2 Klaksvik
19/06/2022 – B36 Torshavn 0 – 1 Klaksvik
28/05/2022 – Klaksvik 3 – 0 EB/Streymur
22/05/2022 – Vikingur 0 – 0 Klaksvik
Bodo/Glimt – Klaksvik Direct comparison / H2H balance
The two teams will face each other for the first time on Wednesday. For the Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt it is even the first duel with a team from the Faroe Islands, KI Klaksvik met Molde FK in the CL qualifiers 2003/04 and were clearly defeated twice (total score 0:6).
Bodo/Glimt – Klaksvik tip
The starting position in this first qualifying round clash for the UEFA Champions League is more than clear. The Norwegian champions have had problems with consistency this year, but are normally very strong, especially at home. The underdogs from the Faroe Islands will not be a stumbling block and accordingly, between Bodo/Glimt and Klaksvik, the prediction in the direction of the home side is the logical consequence.
However, a bet on the three-way market is not particularly lucrative with the betting odds on offer. For the -2.5 handicap, odds of over 2.00 are offered between Bodo/Glimt and Klaksvik. A victory with a three-goal difference is a house number, but if you can give Roma six goals at home, you can also score three times against the half-amateur team from the Faroe Islands. Six units are used as the stake for this bet.
