Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 14/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet

Bodo/Glimt and Red Star Belgrade will clash in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday, with both teams vying for a spot in the competition’s new-look group stage.

Red Star, the reigning Serbian champions, are traveling to the Arctic Circle to take on Bodo/Glimt, who have already battled through two rounds of qualifying. Both teams will be aiming to take a crucial step toward securing their place among Europe’s elite clubs.

Bodo/Glimt

Bodo/Glimt have undergone a remarkable transformation under head coach Kjetil Knutsen, emerging from underdog status to become one of Norway’s most dominant football clubs. Since their promotion to the Eliteserien in 2017, they have established themselves as a force both domestically and in European competitions. With memorable victories against Celtic and Roma in recent years, Glimt have gained a reputation for exceeding expectations on the European stage.

This season, they cruised past Latvia’s RFS with a resounding 7-1 aggregate win in the second qualifying round before dispatching Poland’s Jagiellonia Bialystok with a 1-0 away victory and a 4-1 triumph at home to reach the play-off round.

Despite their success in recent years, Bodo/Glimt have never made it to the Champions League group stage, falling short in the play-off round two years ago before embarking on a Europa League campaign. Last season, they made it through the Europa Conference League group stage but were edged out by Ajax in the knockout round play-offs.

Domestically, Glimt are leading the way in the Eliteserien, sitting eight points clear at the top of the table, and their preparations for this crucial tie against Red Star Belgrade were boosted by a break from league fixtures. They will now aim to make history by reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time.

Team News

Bodo/Glimt head into their play-off tie against Red Star Belgrade with several injury concerns, as Nino Zugelj, Gaute Vetti, Syver Skeide, Brice Wembangomo, and Norway defender Omar Elabdellaoui remain unavailable. Despite these absences, the team will be confident, particularly with their firepower up front.

Sondre Fet, Kasper Hogh, August Mikkelsen, and Ulrik Saltnes have all contributed two goals apiece during Glimt’s four qualifying matches so far. Hogh, alongside former AC Milan winger Jens Petter Hauge, is expected to start in attack, offering a potent threat at Aspmyra Stadion.

Captain Patrick Berg, who has been in fine goal-scoring form in the Eliteserien this season, will lead the charge from midfield, as Glimt look to take a crucial step towards reaching the Champions League group stage.

Red Star Belgrade

Red Star Belgrade enter the play-off round against Bodo/Glimt as the seeded side and with a rich history in UEFA competition, including winning the European Cup in 1991. While their recent successes in Europe have been more modest, they reached the Champions League group stage in both 2018 and 2019 and made a return last season. However, they struggled in a tough group, finishing bottom with just one point against Young Boys, RB Leipzig, and then-reigning champions Manchester City.

Despite their European challenges, Red Star remain dominant domestically, winning a seventh straight Serbian Superliga title last season under head coach Vladan Milojevic, who returned for a second stint at the club. They also claimed victory in the Serbian Cup final, completing a domestic double.

This season, Red Star have started strongly, leading the league with an impressive average of over three goals per game. Most recently, they recorded a commanding 4-1 win over Cukaricki, with Peter Olayinka scoring in the first half. The Serbian champions will be aiming to carry that momentum into their Champions League play-off tie as they look to secure group-stage qualification once again.

Team News

Red Star Belgrade’s attack will likely feature Peter Olayinka and Bruno Duarte leading the front line in their Champions League play-off clash against Bodo/Glimt. Both forwards are capable of causing serious problems for the opposition defence, while Gabonese playmaker Guelor Kanga is another key offensive threat, having been involved in 17 goals during last season’s Serbian Superliga.

Additionally, new recruit Felicio Milson could make an appearance, possibly from the bench. South Korean pair Seol Young-woo—who recently opened his scoring account for Red Star—and Hwang In-beom are expected to contribute, while Slovenian midfielder Timi Max Elsnik could also be in line for a starting spot.

Conclusion

With the stakes so high, the first leg could see a more cautious approach from both Bodo/Glimt and Red Star, despite their usual dominance in domestic leagues.

Red Star’s potent attack and ability to score consistently should see them breach Bodo/Glimt’s defence at some point. However, given the context of a two-legged tie, a tight encounter could end in a draw, setting up Red Star as slight favorites heading into the return leg in Belgrade next week.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 14/5

Bookmaker: Olympusbet