Europa League | League Stage

Jan 23, 2025 at 5.45pm UK

Aspmyra Stadion

Bodo/Glimt vs M. Tel Aviv

Match preview

Bodo/Glimt have now won four of the last five Norwegian crowns, cementing their status as the dominant club at the top of the Scandinavian nation's football scene, and Thursday's hosts are now looking to make waves on the continental stage.

The Gule Horde are well on their way to reaching the knockout stages of the competition after picking up a respectable 10 points from their opening six league games to sit 13th in the standings, three points clear of Braga in 25th.

With the Eliteserien ending at the beginning of December, Bodo/Glimt's last competitive match came on 12 December when Turkish giants Besiktas visited the Aspmyra Stadium, where goals from Philip Zinckernagel and Odin Luras Bjortuft secured a narrow 2-1 victory for the hosts.

Kjetil Knutsen's men have started the new year with a pair of friendlies against quality opponents in recent weeks, losing a five-goal thriller to 2. Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf before a 3-0 defeat at Champions League hopefuls Sparta Prague.

Bodo/Glimt's record in 2024 in front of their own supporters should give them plenty of confidence ahead of Thursday night's visit from Maccabi Tel Aviv, who lost just one of their 15 Eliteserien games in Aspmyra on their way to the Norwegian title.

With the Israeli domestic scene following the typical European schedule, Maccabi Tel Aviv have already played five competitive matches since the turn of the year, winning two, drawing two and losing one - a defeat that knocked them out of the State Cup at the hands of Maccabi Bnei Raina.

After that cup disappointment, the Yellowjackets responded with one of their biggest victories of the 2024-25 campaign last Wednesday night, as a brilliant double from Dor Turgeman and goals from Eran Zahavi and Weslley Pinto secured a 4-1 win over Maccabi Netanya.

Maccabi Tel Aviv, who won the Israeli top flight by a staggering 11 points in the 2023-24 season, will have their work cut out if they are to retain their crown this time around, with Hapoel Be'er Sheva currently sitting three points clear at the top of the standings.

The Yellowjackets have lost just one of their last nine matches since their last Europa League outing on 12 December, when Zarko Lazetic's men secured a much-needed victory over Latvian minnows Rigas Futbola Skola in Serbia thanks to goals from Idan Nachmias and Nemanja Stojic.

With a tricky trip to Portuguese giants Porto looming in the final week of the league campaign, Maccabi Tel Aviv will be desperate to pick up three more Europa League points at the home of Bodo/Glimt, with the Israeli side currently a point adrift of the top 24.

Recent Performance

Bodo/Glimt Europa League form:WDWLLW

Bodo/Glimt form (all competitions):LDWLWW

Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League form:LLLLWW

Maccabi Tel Aviv form (all competitions):WDWDLW

Team News

Daniel Bassi, who has not featured for Bodo/Glimt since last summer due to a long-term injury, is still unavailable for the hosts on Thursday night.

Den Gule Horde will also be without the services of Samuel Burakovsky, who has yet to kick a competitive ball for the club due to a groin problem.

Gaute Hoberg Vetti's return to the Norwegian giants for his second spell at Aspmyra Stadium has been severely hampered by injury.

Brazilian Pinto, who picked up his third yellow card of the league campaign in the win over RFS in December, will not be able to play in Scandinavia.

As a result, Maccabi Tel Aviv will have to find a new solution at the top of the pitch, with 20-year-old Elad Madmon a possible starter.

Possible starting lineup

Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:

Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Saltnes; Helmersen, Hauge, Hogh

Maccabi Tel Aviv possible starting lineup:

Mishpati; Nachmias, Stojic, Lemkin, Revivo; Van Overeem, Kanichowsky; Madmon, Peretz, Layous; Turgeman