Bodø_Glimt Vs M. Tel-Aviv

Bodo/Glimt, aiming to secure a top-eight spot in the 36-team league phase, will host Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv at Aspmyra Stadion in their Europa League encounter on the seventh matchday. The Norwegian side, known as Den Gule Horde, has faced setbacks in the form of losses in two friendlies since the beginning of the year, while Maccabi Tel Aviv has been experiencing a mixed period in their domestic league.

Bodo/Glimt's rise in Norwegian football has been nothing short of remarkable. They won their first-ever Eliteserien title in 2020, and since then, they have clinched four of the last five national titles, cementing their dominance in Norway's football scene. The club's ambitions are no longer confined to domestic glory; they are now targeting European success. The upcoming match against Maccabi Tel Aviv presents an opportunity for Bodo/Glimt to strengthen their chances of advancing to the knockout stages of the Europa League, having accumulated an impressive 10 points from their first six matches in the league phase. With this tally, they currently occupy 13th place in the standings, sitting three points ahead of Braga in 25th. 

Bodo/Glimt's last competitive match took place on December 12, when they faced Turkish giants Besiktas at Aspmyra Stadion. A brace from Philip Zinckernagel and a goal from Odin Luras Bjortuft secured a 2-1 win for the Norwegians, a result that further underlined their growing stature on the continental stage. Despite their strong form in Europe, Bodo/Glimt has had a mixed start to the New Year, losing two recent friendlies. The first loss came at the hands of Fortuna Dusseldorf, a Bundesliga 2 side, in a thrilling five-goal match. The second defeat was a 3-0 loss to Sparta Prague, who compete in the Champions League. These losses, while disappointing, are unlikely to dampen the team's confidence as they prepare to face Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Bodo/Glimt will draw confidence from their impressive home form in 2024, having lost only once in their 15 Eliteserien matches at Aspmyra Stadion. Their strong home record was crucial in their title win last season, where they narrowly defeated Brann to secure the Norwegian crown. The upcoming match against Maccabi Tel Aviv will be another crucial test for Bodo/Glimt, and they will be determined to make the most of their home advantage.

On the other hand, Maccabi Tel Aviv has had a mixed start to the 2024-25 season, both domestically and in European competition. The Israeli side follows the typical European football calendar and has already played five competitive matches since the turn of the year. They have won two, drawn two, and lost one, with the defeat coming in the State Cup at the hands of Maccabi Bnei Raina. The loss was a significant blow for the club, but Maccabi Tel Aviv responded in style with an emphatic 4-1 win over Maccabi Netanya. Dor Turgeman scored twice in that match, while Eran Zahavi and Weslley Pinto also found the net. The victory was a much-needed morale boost for the team.

Maccabi Tel Aviv enjoyed a dominant 2023-24 season, winning the Israeli Premier League by an impressive 11 points. However, this season, they are facing a much tougher challenge in their quest to retain the title. Hapoel Be'er Sheva currently leads the standings, three points ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Israeli side has shown resilience in recent weeks, having lost just one of their last nine matches, including a crucial 2-0 victory over Rigas Futbola Skola in the Europa League on December 12. This win helped them stay in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.

As Maccabi Tel Aviv heads into their away fixture against Bodo/Glimt, they are fully aware of the importance of the match. With a difficult encounter against Portuguese giants Porto looming in the final matchday of the group stage, the Israeli side will be eager to pick up three points in Norway. They are currently just one point behind the top-24 spots, and a win against Bodo/Glimt would keep them in contention for a place in the knockout rounds. 

The match promises to be an exciting contest between two teams with ambitions of making a deep run in the Europa League. Bodo/Glimt, with their solid domestic and European form, will be determined to continue their strong start to the group stage and secure their place in the next round. Maccabi Tel Aviv, on the other hand, will be looking to build on their recent victory and take another step toward qualifying for the knockout stages. With both teams in need of a positive result, Thursday’s clash at Aspmyra Stadion is shaping up to be a highly anticipated encounter in this Europa League campaign.