Bodo/Glimt (Nor) vs Crvena zvezda (Srb) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-08-19 19:00.
[p]It’s 17 years since a Norwegian side last qualified for the UEFA Champions League proper – a streak Bodø/Glimt stand on the brink of ending. Their 7-1 and then 5-1 aggregate victories over RFS and Jagiellonia BiaĹ‚ystok respectively mean they’re potentially 180 minutes away from emulating Molde and Rosenborg in becoming only the third club from the Eliteserien to get past the play-off round.[/p]
[p]Kjetil Knutsen’s side certainly head into their two-legged tie against Red Star Belgrade in good form, thanks to an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions (W6, D2). Not only that, they’ve also won their last six UCL qualifiers at Aspmyra Stadion, scoring 25 goals and conceding just once in the process, so fans would be forgiven for feeling their team can kick off this clash in style.[/p]
[p]Their opponents, who are much more experienced in European football, will have other ideas. Red Star successfully navigated their way through qualifying to the knockout/league phase of the Champions League last season. There’ll be the added motivation to replicate their exploits of last season and better what turned out to be five defeats from their six games (D1) en route to finishing bottom of their group. [/p]
[p]Simply reaching the league phase has to be the first goal, but having been beaten in seven consecutive European away games, it’s just as well they’re in good form domestically, with manager Vladan Milojević claiming his team “absolutely dominated” in the 4-1 win against Čukaricki on Friday. That was a third league victory in a row for the Serbian Super League champions who opened up a nice three-point gap in top spot as a result. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Bodø/Glimt midfielder Patrick Berg has scored his last 13 goals after half time. Red Star’s Peter Olayinka opened his account for the season with a brace against ÄŚukaricki on Friday – his last six club goals have arrived before the hour mark. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: There have been 3+ goals in seven of Bodø/Glimt’s last nine home European ties.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]