Champions League rematch: Bodo/Glimt out to prove progress against Tottenham | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur head back to the Arctic Circle on Tuesday, but this will not feel like a repeat of May’s Europa League semi-final.

Back then, Spurs outclassed Bodo/Glimt over two legs, winning 5-1 on aggregate and showing a level of organisation and quality the Norwegians could not live with. It was professional, decisive, and left little doubt about who belonged on the bigger stage.

Yet the story did not end there for Bodo. Their run to the semi-final already represented history, and in the aftermath, the club has sought to turn that painful defeat into progress.

Sporting director Havard Sakariassen has spoken openly about the lessons learned. He admitted Spurs were simply better in May but argued that the experience exposed physical shortcomings his side have since worked hard to address.

The message is clear: Tottenham will not be facing the same version of Bodo this time.

That claim has some credibility. The Norwegians held Slavia Prague to a 2-2 draw in their Champions League opener after coming back from two goals down. It was a display of resilience and maturity that hinted at genuine growth since their last clash with Spurs.

Bodo now step out for their first Champions League home game, with tickets for Aspmyra Stadion long sold out and demand exceeding capacity many times over.

For the city, and for Norway as a whole, this is a moment that goes beyond football. But for the team, it is also a chance to measure themselves again against elite opposition.

Spurs, meanwhile, have their own questions to answer. Thomas Frank’s side edged Villarreal in their opening game but stumbled at the weekend, drawing with a Wolves team who had struggled to collect points in the Premier League.

That inconsistency is a concern, especially against a Bodo side who sense they are more competitive now.

History remains on Tottenham’s side. They have never lost to a Norwegian team in European competition and remain difficult to beat on the continental stage.

Yet the reality of travelling to the Arctic in hostile conditions, against opponents desperate to prove they belong, carries its own risks.

This match is less about Bodo seeking revenge and more about proving they can compete at this level. Spurs will be favourites again, but their margin for error is slim.

If Frank’s men approach the game with anything less than full focus, the hosts could seize the opportunity to rewrite the script from May.