Bodo/Glimt handed Europa League semi-final boost vs Tottenham as fixture decision confirmed
by Rob Guest · football.londonTottenham fans will not have to wait too long for the team's Europa League semi-final showdown against Bodo/Glimt. The sides will meet for the first time at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, May 1, before then playing the second leg in Norway on Thursday, May 8.
Tottenham are the outright favourites to secure a place in the final but they will certainly not have it all their own way against Bodo/Glimt. Kjetil Knutsen's team have made a name for themselves in the competition this season after beating Porto and Braga in the league phase to finish ninth in the table.
They then went on to record notable results against FC Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio in the knockout stage to set up a semi-final showdown against Tottenham. Ahead of the first-leg tie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Bodo/Glimt have learnt of two changes to their Eliteserien schedule around the Europa League clashes.
The first involves their away game at Fredrikstad that was due to be played on Thursday, May 1, the day of their European away game at Tottenham. As that date was part of matchday five in the Norwegian league, it could quite easily have been moved back a couple of days to be played on the Sunday but that is not the case.
Instead, Bodo/Glimt will now play their fixture at Fredrikstad on Wednesday, July 16. That in turn gives Knutsen and his team a full week to prepare for the decisive second leg against Tottenham at their Aspmyra Stadion, which in turn could possibly prove crucial to the outcome of the tie.
Their second fixture change is not one that directly impacts their Europa League semi-final showdown with Spurs as it involves their home match against Stromsgodset that was due to be played on Saturday, May 10 following the conclusion of the semi-finals. That fixture will now take place on Wednesday, July 30.
In terms of the bookmakers' odds to win the Europa League trophy in Bilbao on Wednesday, May 21, Bodo/Glimt are at the bottom of the list. Tottenham are the current favourites, with Athletic Club and Manchester United then next in line.
However, we have seen a number of surprises in the competition so far this season and Bodo/Glimt will be hoping to spring another one as they target an incredible Europa League triumph.
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