Player Ratings: Spurs take control after Europa League win over Bodo/Glimt | OneFootball

Tottenham Take Commanding Lead Over Bodo/Glimt in Europa League Semi-Final First Leg

Tottenham Hotspur didn’t just win—they imposed their will. A 3-1 victory over Bodo/Glimt at home puts them in firm control of this Europa League semi-final tie, the result less a surprise than the stark contrast between the two sides’ realities. Where Bodo/Glimt’s fairy tale has been about daring to dream, Tottenham’s story now looks increasingly like one of unflinching ambition finally bearing fruit.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

By the time most fans had settled into their seats, Spurs were ahead. Brennan Johnson’s opener, struck in the very first minute, was a gut-punch to the visitors. From that moment, Bodo/Glimt—gutsy, well-drilled, but ultimately limited—were on the back foot.

James Maddison’s goal before half-time came with a sense of inevitability. The rhythm, the passing, the movement—it all had the feel of a team who knew this was theirs to lose. And when Dominic Solanke stepped up and converted from the penalty spot on the hour, the tie looked as good as done.

Spirited Norwegians Still Cling to Hope

Ulrik Saltnes’ late reply for Bodo/Glimt was a goal that belonged more to the realm of hope than expectation. It was well-taken, and it offers them a thread to cling to ahead of next Thursday’s return leg in Norway, but it never felt like a turning point. For all their European heroics this season, Bodo/Glimt found that dreams can collide brutally with reality under the bright lights of North London.

Still, for a side that have already made history by becoming the first Norwegian team to reach a UEFA semi-final, this remains a campaign to be proud of. There is no shame in being second best to a side with far greater resources and individual quality.

Postecoglou’s Steady March Towards Silverware

Ange Postecoglou may not talk in grand declarations, but his record speaks for itself. Should Tottenham finish the job in the second leg, the Australian will be one step closer to delivering silverware in just his second season—something he has managed at every club he’s led.

With 17 years having passed since Spurs last lifted a trophy, there is now a growing sense that the drought may finally end—not in a blaze of glory, but through the quiet, relentless accumulation of wins like this.

Player Ratings: Tottenham 3–1 Bodo/Glimt

Tottenham Hotspur

Substitutes:

Manager: Ange Postecoglou – 8

Unused subs: Alfie Whiteman, Brandon Austin, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Djed Spence, Kevin Danso, Pape Sarr, Mikey Moore.

Bodo/Glimt Face Uphill Task in Second Leg

This isn’t over, not technically. Bodo/Glimt return home knowing their journey isn’t yet complete. But the scale of the challenge ahead is vast. They’ll need more than heart to turn this around—they’ll need a collapse from Tottenham and the kind of miracle that even European football rarely delivers.

Yet whatever happens, the Norwegian side can return to the Arctic Circle with pride. They’ve punched well above their weight in Europe.