Atl.Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt

The Riyadh Air Metropolitano prepares for a high-stakes finale tonight, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as Atlético Madrid welcomes a giant-killing Bodø/Glimt side. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET / 15:00 ET).

Atlético Madrid currently sits in 12th place (13 points). A victory tonight, combined with results elsewhere, could catapult Diego Simeone’s men into the top eight for direct Round of 16 qualification. Meanwhile, Bodø/Glimt is in 28th place (6 points), but they arrive in Spain with renewed hope after a historic win over Manchester City last week. A win tonight would likely see them leapfrog into the top 24 for a knockout playoff spot.

Match Information

Atlético Madrid: Chasing the Top Eight

Diego Simeone’s side has been formidable at home this season, and they enter this clash fresh from a clinical 3–0 victory over Mallorca on Sunday. However, a frustrating 1–1 draw with Galatasaray in their last European outing has left them needing a flawless performance tonight to avoid the February playoff round.

Team News and Selection:

• Griezmann Missing: In a major blow, Antoine Griezmann remains sidelined with a muscle injury.

• The "Sørloth" Surge: Former Villarreal man Alexander Sørloth is in peak form, scoring in his last three appearances. He will lead the line alongside either Giuliano Simeone or Julián Alvarez.

• Defensive Stability: Jan Oblak has recovered from a minor muscle tweak and will start. Robin Le Normand and José María Giménez are expected to anchor the defense.

• Late Calls: Koke and Nahuel Molina face late fitness tests, with Pablo Barrios ready to deputize in midfield.

• Predicted XI (5-3-2): Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Hancko, Lino; Barrios, Gallagher, De Paul; Sørloth, Alvarez.

Bodø/Glimt: The Giant-Killers

Kjetil Knutsen's side pulled off the shock of the tournament last week by beating Manchester City 3–1 at the Aspmyra Stadion. Despite their domestic league being in the off-season, the Norwegians showed no signs of rust, displaying a lethal counter-attacking efficiency that will test Atlético’s discipline.

Team News and Selection:

• The "Hauge" Factor: Jens Petter Hauge is the man to watch. He scored a spectacular long-range effort against City and has been the creative heartbeat of the team in Europe.

• Consistency is Key: Knutsen is expected to name an unchanged XI from the side that stunned Pep Guardiola’s men, relying on the same 4-3-3 system.

• In-Form Striker: Kasper Høgh bagged a brace against City and will look to exploit any space left by Atlético’s advancing wing-backs.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Fet; Zinckernagel, Høgh, Hauge.

Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• First Encounter: This is the first-ever competitive meeting between Atlético Madrid and Bodø/Glimt.

• Norwegian Hex: Atlético has won all six of their previous UEFA matches against Norwegian opposition, with an aggregate score of 12–1.

• Home Fortress: The "Rojiblancos" have lost only one of their last 18 Champions League home matches (W12, D5).

• Scoring Streak: Bodø/Glimt have failed to score in only two of their last 23 European matches.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Atlético will look to suffocate the visitors with their trademark high press, aiming to win the ball early and feed Sørloth in the air. Simeone knows that Bodø/Glimt are at their most dangerous when they can transition quickly, so Conor Gallagher and Rodrigo De Paul will have vital roles in shielding the defense against counter-attacks.

Bodø/Glimt will be content to sit deep and absorb pressure, much like they did against City. If Patrick Berg can find the passing lanes to Hauge and Zinckernagel, they will cause problems. However, the atmosphere and defensive pedigree of Atlético in Madrid are a different level of challenge.

Final Score Prediction: Atlético Madrid 3–1 Bodø/Glimt