Next power show by Bodö/Glimt?

From super-GAU for the Norwegian champions. Bodö/Glimt showed an act of defiance after their surprise defeat to Northern Irish champions Linfield FC and came out on top in the second leg with an impressive 8-0 thumping. The Scandinavians are thus in the third round of CL qualifying for the first time in the club’s history.

With FK Zalgiris there is now the next feasible hurdle for Bodö/Glimt.

Internationally, Bodö/Glimt have won their last eleven home matches. The last time they lost at home to Legia was in the first qualifying round for the 2021/22 Champions League, Glimt have won every home game since, including two home games against recent ECL winners AS Roma.

It would therefore be all the more surprising if the current home series ended against the nine-time Lithuanian champions, of all teams. Internationally, FK Zalgiris Vilnius are a dark horse and have never qualified for the group stage of a UEFA European Cup. Last season, Zalgiris failed to qualify for the Conference League play-offs. Opponents then? Bodö/Glimt.

Bodö/Glimt – Statistics & current form

Bodö/Glimt are on course for the group stage of the top flight. After two teams, KI Klaksvik and Linfield FC, have already been eliminated from the CL qualifiers, the next opponent is FK Zalgiris. Bodö/Glimt are the clear favourites for the match with the Baltic club.

If Glimt win their ticket to the next round, the next opponent will probably be Red Star Belgrade and with it the first test for the Scandinavians. So there are realistic chances for Bodö/Glimt to reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time this season.

That the Scandinavians can keep up with the elite from Europe was already impressively proven last season. After all, Bodö/Glimt were represented in the quarter-finals of the Conference League, where they were defeated by eventual title winners AS Roma. Before that, Glimt eliminated teams such as Celtic and AZ Alkmaar in the knockout phase.

Will the home series be extended at the Aspmyra Stadium?

Bodö/Glimt were particularly convincing in front of their home crowd. The Scandinavians have won every home game in the 2021/22 Conference League. Among other things, there was a 6:1 victory against AS Rome, the ECL champion in 2022. On the international stage, Bodö/Glimt are already on a season-long run of eleven victories at the Aspmyra Stadium.

Glimt have already won at home against KI Klaksvik and Linfield FC in the current CL qualifying campaign. Last year’s champions from Norway even won their home match against the Northern Irish 8-0, sweeping their most recent opponents out of the stadium. It is quite possible that Bodö/Glimt will also roll over FK Zalgiris and set the course for the play-offs.

Due to injury, only Fet and Solbakken will be missing for the first leg against the Lithuanian guests. There are no other absences for the Scandinavians. Compared to the starting eleven that won 2-1 at league rivals Aalesund last weekend, no major changes are expected.

Predicted line-up of Bodö/Glimt:
Haikin; Wembangomo, Amundsen, Hoibraten, Sampsted; Saltnes, Hagen, Vetlesen; Sorli, Boniface, Pellegrino

Last games from Bodö/Glimt:

Elite Series
30/07/2022 – Aalesund 1 – 2 Bodö/Glimt

Champions League Qualifier
27/07/2022 – Bodö/Glimt 8 – 0 Linfield FC

Eliteserien
23/07/2022 – Bodö/Glimt 5 – 0 Jerv

Champions League Qualifier
20/07/2022 – Linfield FC 1 – 0 Bodö/Glimt

Eliteserien
16/07/2022 – Hamarkameratene 0 – 2 Bodö/Glimt

Zalgiris Vilnius – Statistics & current form

FK Zalgiris – like Bodö/Glimt – are in the third round of CL qualifying for the first time in the club’s history. FK Zalgiris punched their ticket to the third qualifying round of the top flight with an aggregate score of 3:0 against Malmö FF. The Green-Whites prevailed in both the first and second legs.

FK Zalgiris now face the next hurdle in qualifying for the top flight with a broad chest. Against Bodö/Glimt, the Baltic guests are even eager for revenge, after all, Wednesday’s opponents eliminated FK Zalgiris in the play-offs for the Conference League 2021/22.

Zalgiris remained unbeaten at home against Bodö/Glimt, but suffered a narrow defeat away from home. Not only did the Green and Whites miss the chance to reach the group stage of a UEFA European Cup for the first time in their club’s history, but they also went winless against another team from Norway.

Continuing negative trend against Norwegian clubs?

In a total of five competitive matches against teams from Norway, FK Zalgiris currently have a record of 0-2-3, with two of the three defeats coming against Bodö/Glimt. It is therefore more than risky to bet on the visitors from Lithuania in the upcoming match between Bodö/Glimt and Zalgiris Vilnius.

Especially as FK Zalgiris have lost every away match in Norway so far. However, head coach Cheburin’s team will by no means be hiding at Bodö/Glimt after the results against Malmö FF and will be confident going into the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

In contrast to the Scandinavians, FK Zalgiris were spared the double burden. Since qualifying for the Champions League, Zalgiris Vilinius have been given a match-free period by the Lithuanian Football Association, allowing them to concentrate on international competition. As in the recent match against Malmö, FK Zalgiris has no personnel worries to complain about this time either.

Predicted line-up of Zalgiris Vilnius:
Gertmonas; Bopesu, Ljubisavljevic, Pavelic, Mamic; Buff, Milickovic, Gorobsov, Ourega; Oyewusi, Oliveira

Last matches played by Zalgiris Vilnius:

Champions League Qualifier
27/07/2022 – Malmö FF 0 – 2 Zalgiris Vilnius

19/07/2022 – Zalgiris Wilna 1 – 0 Malmö FF

12/07/2022 – Zalgiris Wilna 1 – 0 Ballkani

06/07/2022 – Ballkani 1 – 1 Zalgiris Vilnius

A Lyga
01/07/2022 – Zalgiris Vilnius 2 – 1 Hegelmann

Bodö/Glimt – Zalgiris Vilnius Direct comparison / H2H balance

Bodö/Glimt and FK Zalgiris meet for the fourth time on the international stage. So far, Glimt have remained unbeaten in all three matches against their Baltic opponents. The last time the two clubs met was in the 2021/22 Conference League play-offs, where Bodö/Glimt claimed a 3-2 aggregate result after the first and second legs. Glimt won their home match against FK Zalgiris 1-0, but “only” drew 2-2 away from home.

Bodö/Glimt – Zalgiris Vilnius Tip

Bodö/Glimt head into their home game in the third qualifying round of the top flight in fine form. The Scandinavians have won their last three competitive matches, scoring a total of 15 goals. Glimt scored eight of the 15 goals at home to Linfield FC to complete their comeback from a 1-0 defeat in the first leg.

It was the eleventh consecutive home win on the international stage for last year’s Norwegian champions. It is quite possible that this winning streak will be extended against FK Zalgiris at the Aspymra Stadium on artificial turf. So far, Bodö/Glimt have not lost a single match against their Wednesday opponents from Lithuania.

In addition, FK Zalgiris have lost every away match in Norway so far. Therefore, we think it is obvious to bet on a defeat of the Baltic guests this time as well. Since Bodö/Glimt swept Linfield FC out of the stadium 8:0 in the last round, we do not rule out the Scandinavians’ next landslide victory.

Our tip for Bodö/Glimt vs. Zalgiris Vilnius is “HT/FT: 1/1” at odds of 1.72