Bodo/Glimt handed huge injury blow before Tottenham Europa League semi-final
The road to Bilbao just got tougher for Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt as they prepare for their Europa League semi-final showdown with Tottenham Hotspur.
What should have been a moment of celebration after their historic victory over Lazio has quickly turned into a mounting injury and suspension crisis that could leave manager Kjetil Knutsen scrambling for solutions ahead of the first leg in North London.
Fresh off their dramatic quarter-final triumph, Bodo/Glimt suffered an unexpected setback in domestic action, surrendering a two-goal lead against Molde in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
The dropped points were disappointing enough, but the bigger concern was the early exit of midfielder Ole Blomberg, who limped off after just 15 minutes with an unspecified injury. With two more league matches before the Tottenham clash, Knutsen will be anxiously awaiting updates on Blomberg’s fitness.
If the 24-year-old fails to recover in time, he will join three other key players ruled out of the first leg—a devastating blow for a side already missing suspended captain Patrick Berg, creative spark Hakon Evjen, and match-winner Andreas Helmersen.
Helmersen, whose extra-time strike against Lazio forced penalties, received a red card in that chaotic quarter-final and will serve his ban against Spurs. Berg and Evjen, meanwhile, fell victim to UEFA’s disciplinary rules, accumulating too many yellow cards at the worst possible time.
The governing body’s regulations state that all bookings are wiped after the quarter-finals, but the damage had already been done—leaving Knutsen without his midfield general and most dynamic attacker for the trip to England.
Tottenham, meanwhile, will breathe a sigh of relief after narrowly avoiding their own suspension scare. Yves Bissouma, Lucas Bergvall, and Dejan Kulusevski were all one booking away from missing the semi-final, but only Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur picked up cautions in their gritty 2-1 aggregate win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ange Postecoglou’s side may not be at full strength either, but compared to Bodo/Glimt’s mounting absentee list, Spurs’ selection headaches pale in comparison.
The contrast in squad depth could prove decisive. While Tottenham have the luxury of rotating their squad with Premier League fixtures, Bodo/Glimt—midway through their domestic season—must balance league commitments with their unprecedented European run.
Knutsen’s gegenpressing style demands intensity and energy, but with key players missing, his ability to execute that game plan against a rested Spurs side becomes far more challenging.
Yet underestimating the Norwegians would be a mistake. This is a team that has already knocked out AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, and Lazio—teams with far greater resources and European pedigree.
Knutsen has built a side that thrives as underdogs, using their collective spirit and tactical discipline to overcome more fancied opponents. Even depleted, they will arrive at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
For Spurs, the stakes are equally high. A trophy-less season would be deemed a failure, and with Champions League qualification via the Premier League far from guaranteed, the Europa League represents their clearest path to silverware.
Postecoglou’s men must capitalize on Bodo/Glimt’s weakened state in the first leg—because by the return fixture in Norway, the hosts could have Berg and Evjen back, turning the Arctic Circle into a fortress once more.
The stage is set for a fascinating tactical battle, but one overshadowed by personnel shortages. Will Bodo/Glimt’s next men up rise to the occasion, or will Tottenham’s superior firepower prove too much? One thing is certain: the underdogs’ dream run now faces its toughest test yet.