Zurich vs Bodo/Glimt prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-26 16:45.
A 5-0 humiliation at PSV on matchday four confirmed Zürich’s elimination from this season’s UEFA Europa League (UEL), with the Swiss champions still pointless in Group A. Worse may yet lie in store though, as Zürich now must win to stay in Europe altogether, with this fixture representing their last hope of plotting a route to the Europa Conference League (UECL).
Zürich also lie bottom of the Swiss Super League, and augmented the worst record for a title holder at this stage (D6, L7) with a 4-1 derby loss to Grasshopper, a result which marked their only goal across five previous games in all competitions (D3, L2). As such, few could blame them for switching off here in a bid to save their league campaign, though they fought bravely in a 2-1 defeat in the reverse clash against Bodø/Glimt, scoring a late consolation after a goalless first half.
With Arsenal claiming victory over PSV in their rearranged clash last week, Bodø/Glimt’s chances of UEL progression received a boost. A win here could put them level on points with the second-placed Dutch side going into the final matchday and with a four-game winning streak in the Eliteserien further boosting their morale, we could be set up for a thrilling group finale.
In a slight negative, Bodø/Glimt have never won away inside 90 minutes at this level of continental competition (D1, L4), and with little to separate second from fourth in the Eliteserien’s race for two UECL berths, the Yellow Horde have a distraction of their own. Yet, they’ve shown some lethal form on the road lately, scoring in 11 straight away league games (W8, L3) and will be looking to do their country proud in their maiden UEL group stage campaign.
Players to watch: Jonathan Okita accounts for Zürich’s only open-play home goal in Group A – but the Lightning’s man of the moment Hugo Vetlesen, could easily steal his thunder. As well as hitting a two-minute brace in Bodø/Glimt’s 5-0 weekend win over Kristiansund, he scored in the reverse clash to make all three of his European strikes this term decisive.
Hot streak: Including qualifiers, none of Zürich’s last eight UEL home games have ended level.