Bodo/GLIMT vs Tottenham: will the artificial tone above the Arctic Polar Club see the spurs slip into the Europa League semifinal? | Football news

An advantage of two goals that was heading towards the second stage of a direct elimination draw of the Europa League, Tottenham was in this situation four years ago – and it was not over well.

Jose Mourinho’s spurs left a 2-0 lead advantage against Dinamo Zagreb after a loss of extra time 3-0 in Croatia. The turnaround was even more extraordinary considering that Dinamo was without manager, having lost their coach due to a prison sentence between the first and second leg.

Now Bodo/Glimt aims to emulate the return of Dinamo on Thursday, with Tottenham in possession of an advantage of a semifinal 3-1. The story, however, is not on the Norwegian side.

A two -scale semifinal deficit has never been canceled since the competition was renamed as the Europa League in 2009/10.

You have to go back 37 years – when the competition was known as UEFA CUP – for the last time it happened when Expanyol beat the club Brugge 3-0 at home to win 3-2 in aggregate and reach the 1988 final.

“Artificial tone is an advantage for us”

But what will give Bodo/Glimt Real Credies who can become the Europa League history producers is their unique home fortress.

The 8,270 -seat Stadion Aspymyra Stadion – located above the Arctic circle – boasts a difficult artificial tone, freezing temperatures and a narrow atmosphere. It has become an icy cemetery for the visiting teams.

Kjetil Knutsen’s team has won 28 of the last 34 games at home in all European competitions and are in a winning European home with their last victory against Laozio.

A few hours before facing the Italian giants, the Bodo/GLIMT field was buried in the snow, but a combination of heating under the ground, snowy planks and Laborioso Groundstaff saw the game go on.

But Lazio would like it to not have it, since they lost the first leg for the quarterfinals 2-0-The synthetic surface has proven particularly problematic.

“They had speed in their exchanges because of the artificial tone,” said Boss Lazio Marco Baroni Sky in Italy.

Therefore how much the artificial tone does Truly Give the Norwegian champions the upper hand?

“There is no doubt that it is an advantage for us,” reveals the defender Bodo/Glimt Odin Bjortut, who lost his first leg in northern London due to an injury.

“But at the same time, that’s what you are used to. We train on this field every day, the same with the team we meet, they train every day on the grass shots.

“They have an advantage over us and we have an advantage over them. I think it’s equal.

“But of course, playing home here is a great advantage for us because I don’t think many teams are prepared for what is coming.

“We managed to do it in a successful way. The ball goes very fast here, and this is a key object for us.”

The Spurs were here before … in Tamworth

But an artificial tone is not new for Spurs this season. Ange Postecoglou’s team played four months ago at the non -tie Tamworth, although the result was worrying.

Tottenham needed extra time to avoid the embarrassment of the third round of the England Cup in the lamb ground since they finally won 3-0 on the 3G field.

However, that almost disastrous experience could prove vital in view of their trip to Norway.

As a question about what makes the tone of Bodo/Glimt such a factor of difference, BjortUft explains: “I think it’s a combination [of things].

“The ball goes very fast when you play in steps, and it is more difficult for the defenders who reach the attackers and get contacts with us. This is what we benefit from in these games.

“Of course, it is a big difference between artificial and grass in many ways, but the main key is that the ball goes so quickly.

“It could be more difficult to turn and everything for players who are not used to.”

The most friendly temperature awaits the spurs

Lazio, Olympiakos, Porto, Besiktas and FC Twento were all frozen at the Aspymyra stadium this season.

And four years ago, a very changed Rome was hammered 6-1 there while Mourinho suffered the heaviest defeat of his managerial career, while Postecoglou has already tasted the defeat in Bodo/Glim with Celtic after a 2-0 loss in February 2022.

But the frozen conditions that contribute to those upheavals will not be so hard to visit Tottenham.

Besiktas lost in Bodo/GLIMT in December with the less one temperature, but Thursday’s predictions are about seven degrees, making it more tolerable for the Spurs.

Asked by Sky Sports If Bodo’s most friendly time hindered their possibilities, BjortUft replies: “I can’t wait to see the sun again! I don’t really mind, and I don’t think none of us think about it.

“It was a great speech all over the world for the newspapers that time is such an advantage for us, but I think we can play the same football whether it is snowing or being sunny, so there is no difference for us.”

But if BjortUft believes that time is irrelevant, then the atmosphere and the local estate are of real meaning.

“It’s a smaller stadium than them [Tottenham] they are used to. He is really compact, “says the 26 -year -old.” And it is a city that remains together.

“We are really comfortable to play here, as many house teams are. I think we have good support from the city and they are really positive, even if it goes south.

“It’s a nice feeling for us to have them on the back.”

‘Tottenham has everything to lose’

Bodo/GLIMT will be supported by the fact that 60 % of their European victories (excluding qualifiers) were two or more goals, including victories at home on Lazio (2-0) and Olympiakos (3-0) this season.

The Spurs will be desperate to avoid granting first Thursday.

“I’m not so sure of Tottenham [making the final]. It depends on the first goal, “said European football expert Kevin Hatchard Sky Sports News.

“If they get that first goal, with the crowd and that type of setting – the plastic pitch in the Arctic circle – then it becomes a huge test for the psychologically Tottenham.

“Tottenham has everything to lose, but Bodo/Glimt has no close part to lose. The pressure is to a certain extent.”

Dinamo Zagreb was in the position of Bodo/Glimt four years ago and managed to disturb the chances. This has the potential to be déjà vu for spurs.