Preview: Bodø/Glimt look to continue their Champions League fairy-tale as they face Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their Round of 16 clash | OneFootball

Bodø/Glimt on the brink of a historic Champions League last-16 place as they take a three-goal lead to Lisbon against Sporting CP.

Whilst Bodø had been no pushovers during the early days of their Champions League group stage, it wasn’t until their demolition of former winners Manchester City at the end of January that their love affair with the most prestigious club competition really kicked off. The fishing town of just a mere 55,000 people has already seen dizzying heights that many much bigger towns could merely dream off, Bodø followed up their win against City with victories against Atletico Madrid and a 5-2 demolition of last seasons finalists Inter Milan has put the Norwegians in the hat for the round of 16. A 3-0 home victory over Sporting in the first leg has now set up a mouth-watering tie on Tuesday afternoon with Bodø on the cusp of creating even more history.

Sporting, despite the 3-0 drubbing in the first leg, have had a remarkable domestic campaign so far with only one loss all season to their name. The Leoes sit second in the Liga Portugal trailing runaway leaders Porto by seven points with a game in hand, Rui Borges’ side have been brilliant in the Champions League group stage as-well and qualified to the round of 16 automatically as part of the top eight sides after just two defeats in their eight games. Victories over PSG and Marseille proved their metal amongst Europes elite which makes the first leg result that more remarkable.

To add to just how remarkable this all is, Bodø are on their maiden season in the Champions League after reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League last season before bowing out to to eventual winners Spurs. With such a tiny population, it would be right to assume that Bodø haven’t always been this premier dark horse in Europe but in their domestic league that have been perennial over-performers winning the Eliteserien four times and a further 11 other domestic trophies whilst continuously breaking records for football in Northern Norway. After finishing as runners-up last season in the league, Bodø will be hoping to go one better and add a fifth Eliteserien title when the Norwegian season starts back up again later this month.

Sporting have lost just one game at home in all competitions this season and will need to lean on that fantastic form if they are to end this Norwegian fairy-tale, they also have extremely talented players at their disposal too, none more so than striker Luis Surez (not that one) who has 15 goals and four assists so far this season and young winger Giovanny Quenda who has been one of the most exciting talents emerging in Europe this season. Those two have contributed heavily to Sporting’s 64 goals scored in the league this season which is among the most in Europe

Bodø have very talented players in their arsenal too, Jens-Petter Hauge has been a jewel in this sides crown so far this season having already bagged 11 goal contributions in his 13 Champions League appearances so far this season, elsewhere striker Kasper Høgh has also had his name up in lights a fair few times during this Champions League campaign and having already scored in this tie during the first leg, Bodø/Glimt travel to Lisbon with a three-goal advantage as they take on Sporting CP for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.