FK Bodø/Glimt 3 Sporting CP 0

FK Bodø/Glimt v Sporting CP
Wednesday March 11th, 2026
Aspmyra Stadion
Champions League round of 16

The warm up 

There's something that touches the human psyche about an underdog story, the triumph of hope over expectation. As Andy Williams famously sang - To dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe, to bear with unbearable sorrow, to run where the brave dare not go. Yet as the famous idiom says - today's news is tomorrow's fish and chips paper. That being said, news now comes on our phones and tablets and I'm not sure you can use either to wrap fish and chips.

Who can forget Leicester City winning the Premier League at odds of 5,000/1? Denmark winning Euro 1992 despite having not even qualified or Greece in Euro 2004? Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson to become Heavyweight Champion of the world? Closer to home FC Porto winning the Champions League under the upstart José Mourinho? All now just faded memories like a photograph on the wall left in direct sunlight. Like every underdog story people soon move onto the next one and those who briefly hogged the limelight are quickly forgotten. As Andy Warhol said - Everyone in the future will be famous for fifteen minutes. 

For this season's guest entry, read - FK Bodø/Glimt, conquerors of last season's beaten Champions League finalists Internazionale, more commonly known as Inter Milan. All that stands in their way of more glory are the lions who beat Paris St Germain, who, lest we forget, beat Inter 5-0 in last season's final. How's that for a case of one upmanship? The same lions that beat the 2023 Champions Manchester City 4-1 last season. This isn't Sporting Clube de Portugal's first rodeo ladies and gentlemen. 

Fotbalklubben Bodø/Glimt to give them their full title, formerly known as just Fotbalklubben Glimt, were founded in the September of 1916. They're based in Bodø in Norway, a town located just north of the Arctic circle which covers an area of just 14.91km². Lisboa by comparison covers 100.05km² in case you were interested. Its population of 42,831 recorded in 2023 wouldn't be enough to fill the Estádio José Alvalade which currently stands at 50,095 even if they've been busy having babies in the interim period since their last census. They play at the Aspmyra Stadion with a capacity of just 8,270. It's most noted, other than for its size and compactness, for having artificial turf. Artificial turf being like kryptonite to some Premier League and Serie A footballers it appears.

In 1948 the club adopted its current name as another club from Trøndelag had the same one and FK Bodø-Glimt began life in a new guise. You'd think someone would have checked first wouldn't you? The reason they're now Bodø/Glimt? Apparently hyphens are most commonly used to separate clubs on betting slips and when displaying football results so they simply adapted it during the 1980s. Who says these posts aren't educational? 

They didn't make their top flight Norwegian debut until as late as 1977 some sixty one years after their formation. They managed four seasons before being relegated and played second fiddle to the town's other club and main rivals IK Grand Bodø. Not quite Sporting and Benfica but all things being relative it's their own version. More Estrela and Casa Pia if you will. 

104 years after their formation and proving Arthur Guinness was right, good things really do come to those who wait, Bodø won their first Norwegian title in 2020. Then they added another in 2021, and another in 2023 and again in 2024. Norwegian titles it seems are like buses, you wait all that time for one to arrive and four come along just like that. 

Nicknamed Glimt meaning gleam or Superlaget (the super team), much of their current success has been attributed to one man, Bjørn Mannsverk an ex-fighter pilot who flew F-16s for the Royal Norwegian Air force. He's attributed with changing the mindset of their players into becoming a positive force which has benefited the club both on and off the pitch. Personally I'd say who needs an ex-fighter pilot to boost the troops when you've got Paulinho?

Like Sporting CP, Bodø are very much a side that are the sum of their parts and devoid of reliance on any superstar names. Their record in finishing runner up last campaign was played 30, won 22, drawn 4, lost 4, GF 85, GA 28. At home played 15, won 12, drawn 1, lost 2. GF 50, GA 11. Their top scorer was Kasper Waarts Høgh with 17 goals. Hauge scored 8, Blomberg and Saltnes 7. In all a highly impressive 18 players found the net as they scored 85 times over the course of those 30 games. 60 goals came from open play, 15 from set pieces, 2 free kicks, 5 penalties and 3 own goals. They outperformed their Xg of 74.2 by some margin. Highest average goals per game of 2.8, fewest average goals conceded of 0.9. Highest average possession of 63.3% fed by the average accurate passes per game of 545.7, most clean sheets with 13, the league's highest Xg, most shots on target with 6.4 per game. Most missed big chances with 60, most accurate crosses per 90 with 6.3. They conceded 2 penalties all campaign and collected just 20 bookings and 2 red cards. That's not the northern lights you see in the sky but the shine from their players' halos. 

I began this post discussing the human psyche. The mind we're led to believe is this incredible tool, which is true, but unfortunately what's equally true is that it's deeply flawed. Take its propensity towards recency bias. For those not familiar with the term it's defined as a cognitive bias where individuals overemphasise recent events or information, assuming they are more representative or relevant than past data. Which is to say that knocking out Inter Milan carries more weight than the fact that Bodø finished 23rd in the group stage of the Champions League qualifying one place above the dirty pigeons and knocking Marseille, Pafos FC and Union St.Gilloise out by virtue of goal difference. Sporting on the other hand finished 7th with 8 more points in one of the automatic qualifying spots. Yet it appears the world and his wife merely expect the Norwegians to have to turn up to sweep away the lions. If only life was that simple hey?

With expectation comes a great weight and great weights can be burdensome. Bodø remain the underdog for this tie but the media in the main are going to go to town to sell you the narrative that the reverse is true. You know who won't sell you the reverse narrative? The bookmakers. Their implied probability is a 71.4% chance that the lions will progress through to the next round. Their weight of expectation is firmly attached to the lions and have you ever met a poor bookmaker? Should Sporting qualify instead of the Norwegians as actually should be expected, the narrative will move onto the next story quicker than you can say jumping Jack flash and if health and safety and modern technology didn't get in the way, the next time you'd be seeing the name Bodø would be under your fish and chips. They'll have joined a list of football teams that will forever be added to that only their fans will remain caring about. I forget how many times the English media tried to claim that Luton Town was everyone's second favourite team when they were promoted to the Premier League. Try repeating that claim after successive relegations down to league two. The only other set of fans who pay attention now are those of Cambridge United and that's because to them they're dirty Luton. What happened to Ajax after their run to the Champions League semi-finals? Well we know what happened to them under Farioli last season that's for certain and if you don't then search a couple of posts back for the Sporting - FC Porto Taça de Portugal first leg post for all the gory details. De Nada. 

Thankfully unlike Sporting Braga who were onto game 46 of their season when they faced off against the lions, Bodø at the time of writing at least are yet to kick a ball domestically and their season begins in earnest this Thursday the 5th away to Molde in the Norgesmesterskapet. On the home front their last season ended way back on November 30th. Just a reminder that when people claim no one wins the title in November, that doesn't apply in Norway where the somewhat aptly named Viking finished a point ahead of Bodø to be crowned Norwegian champions. 

Let's rewind back to August 20th, 2025 for the Champions League qualifying rounds when Bodø faced off at home against a club familiar to Sporting, that being Sturm Graz. They got off to a flier winning 5-0 with goals from Høgh, Bjørtuft, Saltnes, Evjen and a Bøving own goal. Xg 2.03 to 0.78, they scored both their big chances, Sturm missed all 3 of theirs. In the reverse fixture Jørgensen made it 6-0 on aggregate after 14 minutes. Goals from Jatta and Oermann secured a 2-1 victory for the Austrians but that will have been of little comfort I'm sure as they crashed out 6-2 on aggregate. Xg 1.67 to 1.06. Sturm missed 3 of 4 big chances, Bodø 1 of 2. With the win came qualification for the Champions League group stages. 

Matchday 1 - Slavia Prague A. A Mbodji brace (22 and 73) gave the Czech’s a 2-0 lead. Bassi pulled one back on 77 and the home sides Pilsner lost its fizz a minute before time when Fet equalised to secure an unlikely 2-2 draw. Xg 3.98 to 2.52. Slavia registered 26 attempts to 11 which reflects in the Xg, however it was the Norwegians who fashioned the better opportunities, they just failed to put them away as they missed 4 of 5 big chances. Slavia scored 2 of their 3. Still you suspect a point against the Czech Champions coming from 2-0 down was greatly received in the end. 

Matchday 2 - Tottenham H. Europa League champions up next. A side who I should caveat at the time of writing who've incredibly not won a league game in 2026. Even AVS have won a league game in 2026. Sorry I digress. This time Bodø led 2-0 in a reversal of fortunes from Matchday 1 through a Hauge brace (52 and 65). If the Norwegians had been singing 2-0 and you fucked it up in the Czech capital it would have come back to bite them as Van de Ven made it 2-1 on 67 and a Gundersen own goal 2 minutes from time won the north Londoners a point. Xg 2.52 to 1.46, Bodø missed both their big chances, Spurs missed 2 of their 3. 

Matchday 3 - Galatasaray A. Another actual Champion faced in the Champions League. The Turks took just 2 minutes to take the lead through Victor Osimhen who completed his brace on 32. Akgün made it 3-0 just before the hour mark. Helmersen scored a consolation on 74 minutes to make it a 3-1 loss. Xg 3.87 to 1.41. 23 attempts to 8. NINE big chances created of which Galatasaray missed six. Bodø missed 2 of 3. 

It should be noted that even when sides win by 4 or more goals rarely does an XG hit as high as around the 4 goal mark and even when it does it's normally inflated by penalties which are now recorded as 0.79 whether scored or not. So Bodø seeing an Xg of 3.98 and then 3.87 is one of those statistics you'd underline in your book when writing them out. 

Matchday 4 - AS Monaco H. A Balogun goal after 42 minutes gave the principality side a 1-0 away win meaning the Norwegians had collected a grand total of 2 points from a possible 12. Can anyone remind me what recency bias means again? Xg 1.67 to 1.29. Bodø missed all 3 of their big chances, Monaco their only one. 

Matchday 5 - Juventus H. Blomberg put them ahead on 26, Openda equalised 2 minutes into the second half. McKennie made it 2-1 to the zebras just before the hour mark. Bodø handed a lifeline 4 minutes before the end of the 90 with a penalty duly converted by Fet to make it 2-2. David scored on 90 to give Juventus all 3 points with a 3-2 away win. Xg 1.75 to 3.44. 18 attempts to 23. Juventus scored 3 of their 5 big chances, Bodø scoring 2 of their 3. 

Matchday 6 - BVB A. Brandt scored the first of his brace on 17 to give the former finalists and victors of Sporting in last season's play offs a 1-0 lead. Aleesami equalised 4 minutes before half time. Brandt's second regained their advantage on 50. Hauge equalised on 74 for a 2-2 draw. At this stage with 3 points from a possible 18, Bodø needing a minor miracle to progress as they still searched for their first ever Champions League win. Xg 3.19 to 1.38. 22 attempts to 7. The Germans missed 4 of 6 big chances, Bodø scored both of theirs. 

Matchday 7 - Manchester City H. Start the recency bias drumroll peoples. Høgh gives them an improbable lead after 21 minutes. Remember everyone loves an underdog story and just 2 minutes later he completed his brace and the Norwegians are pinching themselves whilst the rest of Europe watches on in shock and disbelief. When Hauge makes it 3-0 on 57 their mister Pep Guardiola must have been having flashbacks to November 5th the previous season when a certain Viktor Gyökeres bagged himself a match ball in the Estádio José Alvalade. Brief hope on 59 when Cherki pulled a goal back but it proved to be of little use as Bodø won their first ever Champions League game 3-1. Xg 1.60 to 1.23. Bodø scored 2 of their 4 big chances, whereas critically City missed all 4 of theirs. 

Matchday 8 - Atlético Madrid A. A win for the Spaniards would leave them in with a chance of making the top 8. A win for the Norwegians would still leave them reliant on scores elsewhere for any chance of finishing in the top 24. When Sørloth opened the scoring on 14 minutes it looked like normal service was resumed however Sjøvold equalised to make it 1-1 on 33 and Høgh made it 2-1 to Bodø on 58. Despite Atlético registering 11 attempts in the last half hour the Norwegians held on for a 2-1 win. In Belgium Club Brugge had put up a congratulations sign for Marseille on them reaching the knockout stages despite the French losing 3-0. However events in Bilbao and in Lisbon meant they'd been premature and the French side were out or the competition. The Dutch Champions PSV saw their hopes end in 2-1 defeat to Bayern München at home. Bodø were certainly helped by Athletic Club losing 3-2 to Sporting having led 1-0. Napoli lost 3-2 at home to Chelsea. FC København were pumped 4-1 away to Barcelona. The Norwegians had been given their minor miracle. They'd finished 23rd and qualified for the play offs. XG 2.18 to 1.88. Atlético missed both their big chances, Bodø created five missing 3 but critically scoring 2. 

Play offs - Internazionale A. Few could have dreamt that the Norwegians having scraped a place in the play offs could overcome the side who'd finished runners up the previous season. Fet put them ahead on 19 but Esposito equalised just before the half hour mark but not before Damian had hit the woodwork. Straight after the break Martínez should have given Inter a 2-1 lead but hit the post. Instead it was Hauge who restored their lead and Høgh made it 3-1 on 63. Bodø clinical in front of goal when it was needed the most and they'd be off to the Giuseppe Meazza with a 2 goal advantage to defend. Xg 1.19 to 1.56. Their mister Christian Chivu left rueing his decision not to start Bisseck and DiMarco and without Çalhanoğlu and Dumfries through injury. Inter missed one of 2 big chances, Bodø scored both of theirs. 

Internazionale A. Before the opening goal the Italians had registered 18 attempts but Hauge was gift-wrapped a stray pass from Akanji on 57 and he didn't need asking twice as he made it 4-1 on aggregate. Inters defence just watched on as Evjen sailed in between two black and blue shirts to smash home a second on 71 and the Norwegians were 5-1 up on aggregate. Bastoni scored a consolation on 75 but it really was just that as Bodø progressed 5-2 on aggregate. 30 attempts to 7, Xg 2.29 to 1.74. Inter scored 1 of 2 big chances, Bodø importantly scored 2 of their 3 and as we now know were drawn against the lions in the round of 16.

Their group phase record read played 8, won 2, drawn 3, lost 3. GF 14 GA 15. The lions played 8, won 5, drawn 1, lost 2. GF 17, GA 11. Bodø failed to keep a clean sheet, though that being said Sporting only kept the 1. In the tournament overall not including just the league phase, Bodø with the second worst Xg conceded of 24.5 only beaten by Qarabag FK who finished with 27.6. Second most clearances on average of any side per match with 30.9 behind the Cypriot Pafos FC. Top for most average saves per match on 5.6 (56 saves recorded over their 10 matches). Third cleanest disciplinary record averaging 8.6 fouls per game and receiving just 11 bookings. 

Bodø will be well aware that Sporting's strength in Europe this campaign has come at the José Alvalade where they beat Kairat Almaty 4-1, Marseille 2-1, Club Brugge 3-0 and the current Champions League holders PSG 2-1 to give them a 100% record. On the road a 2-1 loss to Napoli, a 1-1 draw to Juventus, 3-1 loss to Bayern before securing their place in the final 8 with Alisson Santos' last minute winner against Athletic Club. He of course having now departed for Napoli on loan taking his 3 Champions League goals with him. 

We certainly have form for European capitulations, I'm in no way naïve. October 1st, 2020 Sporting played Lask Linz at the Estádio José Alvalade. The lions got battered 4-1 at home and ended up with ten men after Sebastian Coates was sent off. However my point above is that as a a general rule of thumb lions don't roll over onto their backs and have their bellies tickled. We'll see who comes out on top over two legs home and away. 

Transfers 

No new faces incoming during their transfer window. 

Outgoing 

Syver Skundberg Skeide on loan to Kristiansund BK

Samuel Burakovsky on loan to Östers IF

Mathias Jorgensen to Blackburn for £3.4 million.

Friday update - Bodø defeated Molde 2-1 away in the Norwegian Cup on Thursday night. A Brace from Auklend (31 and 72) sandwiched the home sides reply on 68 through Breivik.

In the markets 

Bodø/Glimt 13/8

Draw 5/2

Sporting CP 8/5

Team News 

Suspensions force both Araújo and Gonçalves to miss the first leg. Both Guilherme and Faye are now registered to play in the competition following their moves in the winter window. Kochorashvili and Mangas didn't travel. Following the release of Reis a question mark over who fills in at left back and all eyes on a possible return for Nuno Santos. I personally wonder if Fresneda will swap sides having impressed there when deputising. Quaresma has frequently been used in the Champions League in the group phase so could be an option on the right. 

Starting XI 

Silva, Fresneda, Inácio, Diomande, Vagiannidis, Simões, Hjulmand, Guilherme, Trincão, Geny and Suárez 

Substitutes 

Virgínia, Callai, Debast, Moreira, Quaresma, Morita, Nuno Santos, Bragança, Faye, Gonçalves and Nel

So as predicted Fresneda comes in at left back. You'll have to imagine how smug my little face is right now but I'm told I look like Tigger when I'm doing it so imagine a human form of that. Guilherme comes back in for the suspended Gonçalves and Moirita drops to the bench for Simões. With Fresneda swapping flanks it's Vagiannidis who comes in for Araújo. With this being Champions League the bench is padded with the additions of Flávio Gonçalves, Nel and Callai.

Bodø/Glimt starting XI 

12 Haikin 

20 Sjøvold 

4 Bjørtuft 

6 Gundersen 

15 Bjørkan 

26 Evjen 

7 Berg

19 Fet

11 Blomberg 

9 Høgh

10 Hauge

First Half 

A place in the quarter finals at stake. The ground reminiscent of many you'd find in Portugal, compact and without fanfare, the only difference the artificial pitch instead of a tractor ploughed turf. The lions in their traditional green and white stripes. The lions hit the century of goals against Braga can they make it at least 101 tonight? Bodø get us underway, the lions will attack left to right. 

1 Mistake from Hjulmand gives away the ball in the final third. He gets back and draws a foul. Shaky opening from Sporting again in Europe  

2 No lines to work out how many yards players there are from goal. That with the accents on players names suggests I'm in for a long night 

2 First foray forward for the lions inside the 18 yard box and Bodø clear their lines

3 Foul on the right flank on Geny and we've a break in play as he receives treatment. Bjørkan caught the top of his boot. At least we've gone further than when we conceded against Athletic Club last time out 

5 Corner to the lions nearside 

5 Luis Suárez sees his shot deflected from ten yards. Second corner near side 

7 Let off for Sporting as Hauge shanks wide from 9 yards. So many times we see in European competition the run to the goal line and the pull back catch the lions out 

9 Poor from Trincão as he finds a yellow shirt when trying to send Geny away

10 No idea how many Sporting have taken away but it's their voices you can hear. What's Norwegian for ‘Sing when you're winning, you only sing when you're winning’?

11 Fet shot from 18 yards is blocked 

12 Berg goes through the back of Suárez's calf in the centre of midfield. Free kick awarded but the referee keeps his card in his pocket for now 

14 Both sides are dropping back into a defensive line of 5 in these early stages 

15 Rui Borges surveys his surroundings deep in thought. A hint of his favourite grey jumper poking out 

15 Inácio the man in the right place to cut out a pass into the area

16 Dismal from Vagiannidis as he plays the ball out for a goal kick like a child playing bowls for the first time and wellies it too hard from just inside the Bodø half 

17 Bodø looking dangerous again, Hjulmand able to shepherd the ball through to Rui Silva

18 Inácio the latest unable to judge the speed of the pitch as the ball goes through to Haikin 

18 First mention of fighter pilots from the commentator

19 Hjulmand an unhappy bunny as he talks himself into the book for dissent and gives a Bruno Fernandes wave of the arm for good measure. New dad with a lack of sleep vibes 

20 As Sporting play from the back it's Hjulmand who's sat in the centre of the 3 at the back 

21 Corner far side to Bodø as Sporting CP watch the ball ping around the box like a game of pinball wizard 

22 Hjulmand flattened and Sporting awarded a free kick in the area and the danger passes 

23 One too many step overs from Hauge on the edge of the box and the lions clear 

23 Rui Silva to the rescue to save from Evjen from 7 yards at point blank range 

23 From one end to the other as Guilherme fires in a shot low from an acute angle on the left to being a save from Haikin

24 Høgh heads straight at Silva from 6 yards but he was penalised for a foul when jumping so wouldn't have counted had it found the net 

25 Sporting clearly used to getting the advantage as first Suárez pulled back then Trincão and neither awarded a free kick and both show their disdain at the referee 

26 Berg fires 3 yards wide of the left hand post from 20 yards 

27 Rui Silva down injured receives treatment 

28 Penalty to Bodø as Vagiannidis penalised with an arm into the back 

29 VAR check ongoing. Vagiannidis waves his hands and says no way. He's adamant it's a legitimate shoulder barge 

30 Referee points to the spot. 

31 GØAL Bodø/Glimt 1 Sporting CP 0 as Fet sends the ball right and Silva left. 

32 Finally some sort of life from the home fans. Perhaps in arctic conditions you don't tend to move unless you have to 

34 Geny darts inside two defenders and plays the ball out to the left. Despite patient buildup Suárez is dispossessed and Bodø broke like lightning and in the blink of an eye Sporting on the back foot again

35 Yellow and black an apt colour kit for Bodø who swarm like wasps around Sporting again and turnover the ball - it's like they're playing two different sports at times 

37 Woeful from Guilherme as he passes to the advertising hoarding nearside a la Renato Sanchez 

38 Guilherme is playing wide right with Geny the last couple of minutes 

39 Fresneda tries to pick out Suárez but again the ball goes back to Haikin

40 Bodø fans have finally woken up. Hammarby's fans didn't stop singing all night against Sporting's ladies. Their support has been frankly shit. Like watching Arsenal fans 

40 Gundersen with a clear obstruction and pull on Sánchez again not penalised by more than a free kick 

41 Guilherme cross from the right cut out and Bodø clear

41 Suarez shot blocked from 18 yards 

42 Fresneda wise to the danger at the far post of Høgh clears for a corner 

42 Fresneda clears and a handball from Evjen gives the lions a breather 

43 Gundersen shown the yellow as his thigh smashes into Geny. Free kick wide right 

44 Guilherme over the ball, sent it to the back of the six yard box and found Suárez but he could only put it behind 

45 GØAL Bodø/Glimt 2 Sporting CP 0. Blomberg tucks home from six yards and guides the ball effortlessly past Silva into the bottom right hand corner. Somersault in celebration 

Plus four shown 

+1 VAR check for offside ongoing. Referee's finger to the ear ... points to the centre circle

+3 Trincão penalised for a foul half way inside the Sporting half. Diomande clears with a header 

+5’10 Half time whistle goes

Half time 

FK Bodø/Glimt 2 Sporting CP 0

Well my prediction for the game was 2-1 but at the moment it's hard to work out where we'll get the 1 from on the evidence of the first half. I've seen worse performances than this in Europe and you can trot out the excuses as much as you like but it's a fully deserved lead for the Norwegians. Araújo was always going to be a huge miss for the lions on any European night but perhaps the biggest miss is that of Alisson now with Napoli down the left flank. It comes as no surprise that the lions have struggled to get to grips with the pace of the pitch, Portugal have some real peat bogs around the country. They're also clearly used to being given decisions for being pulled back and twice in quick succession Suárez and Trincão just stopped and discontinued their run which as we've quickly learned in the opening 45 is not what you want to do against a side who buzz around the ball like flies around shit. The speed in which they can transition the ball from defence to attack is frankly astonishing and the only other side I've seen it to as effectively this entire campaign has been PSG and they're the reigning Champions. Whether they can do it for a full 90 minutes remains to be seen. I imagine unlike Sporting against Braga they're unlikely to sit on the lead and will actively look for a third goal. I fully expected us to lose away and turn it around at the José Alvalade. I might have changed my mind on the second part by full time. 

Second Half 

The question to be answered is where Sporting start to turn this game around and who's capable? No changes from either side as the lions get us back underway. Someone needs to step up and show some quality.

45 Guilherme sends the ball into the box and Suárez appeals for a penalty. Bodø have drawn several times 2-2 in this competition and thrown away leads. We need one back quickly 

46 Poor first touch from Geny. Bodø wrap their foot around the ball clearly happy to sit back and defend this half if early indications are anything to go by 

47 Hjulmand sat deeper this half and Simões playing the pivot 

48 Trincão loses the ball in the final third and Bodø seize their chances to leave their own half 

49 Much better from Sporting. Fresneda started the break down the left and found Suárez who used his strength to carry the ball to the edge of the box. He passes back to Fresneda who with a good piece of skill lost his marker and tries from 16 yards but the ball went well wide of the far post 

50 Big counter attack as Trincão charged forward with a stream of yellow shirts trying to get back. His final ball to Suárez cut out. Big chance gone begging there 

51 Cross from the left by Sporting cut out on the edge of the six yard box 

51 Corner nearside to the lions. We've seen more in six minutes than they produced in the entire opening 50 of the first half 

52 Diomande header goes wide from 7 yards of the far post 

53 Suárez dispossesses a Bodø player and goes down under contact from Gundersen and the referee waves away his claims 

54 Fucking hell. Deflection from a cross from the left comes off Inácio 4 yards out goes out for a corner 

55 Gundersen heads into the arms of Silva from 6 yards 

55 Well timed tackle nips the balls off Geny who was well away

56 Great defending by Fresneda who wins the ball back in the area and shepherds the ball back to Silva 

56 Every man bar Silva now in the Bodø half 

57 Trincão with a touch like a trampoline sends the ball back into a danger area for Bodø but some how the lions get away with it 

57 Simões shot blocked from 20 yards. Tried the spectacular as he teed it up for a volley but it would have had to be special to go through a crowded box 

58 Trincão shot inside the D blocked 

59 Evjen shot blocked from 20 yards 

60 Suárez draws a save from 5 yards on the left from an acute angle. Sporting need to take one of these chances 

61 ➡️ ⬅️ Morita, Nuno Santos and Faye on

Geny, Simões and Vagiannidis off 

62 Morita's first contribution is to slip over

63 Again the central pivot in the back three is a midfielder, this time Morita 

64 Double step over from Suárez, tries a pass to the edge of the six yard box cut out 

64 Great intelligence from Nuno Santos with a disguised pass left Faye in space but his cross cut out 

65 Free kick Sporting about 40 yards out. Morita floated the ball to the back where Diomande penalised for a foul on Gundersen 

66 We're treated to a slow motion replay of the goal celebration. That's quite an Arab spring

67 Nuno Santos and Faye combine but again the attempted cross then cut out 

68 We cannot leave here without a goal. It feels like it might be coming but we need a moment of quality from somewhere to rock their foundations. Just don't do anything stupid at the back

69 Everytime I see Suárez complete with black leggings I'm thinking of Encarnação up front for the women's team. Perhaps he borrowed them from her

70 GØAL. I said don't do anything stupid. Bodø/Glimt 3 Sporting CP 0. Ball across the six yard box. Høgh wanted it more than Inácio and Nuno Santos to force it home from 2 yards 

72 Fresneda wins a corner far side

73 Hjulmand wins the flick on from the Guilherme corner but it goes wide of the far post 

73 ➡️⬅️ Blomberg off for Määttä. For fucks sakes. Make my night worse why don't you. That's a reference to my happiness at him not starting with all his ä’s in his name prior to kick off on X

73 Yellow to Høgh as he went through the back of Fresneda who's gone out to the right following the withdrawal of Vagiannidis and introduction of Nuno Santos 

77 If we can't get a single goal back we are fucked even with Gonçalves and Araújo back 

78 Nuno Santos wise to the danger cuts out a cross on the right flank. Shame he couldn't have been more awake for the third goal 

78 ➡️ ⬅️ Høgh and Fet for Saltines and Helmersen

➡️⬅️ Guilherme for Bragança 

79 Suárez goes down in the box. Referee uninterested. Corner far side 

80 Shove from Suárez as one of the Bodø players makes the hand motion that he dived. I don't think he dived, he kicked the Bodø player and made a meal of it

81 Bodø have run 9 kilometres more than Sporting combined 

81 Bragança shaped for a shot and tried to disguise a pass instead easily cut out 

82 Hauge pokes a shot wide from 16 yards. That started from the Bragança missed pass

83 Suárez playing the Andy Carroll role alone with five yellow shirts and no one running to support him 

83 The home fans on their feet waving their scarves. It's like having rent a crowd in as they then quickly fall silent again. They've been about as impressive as Sporting have on the field 

85 Long ball from Nuno Santos tries to find Suárez in the centre who’s on the floor again. So many better things I could be doing with my life right now. 

86 ➡️ ⬅️ Evjen for Auklend who scored a brace on Thursday night against Molde

87 Sporting the beneficiary of a poor pass inside the area and Hjulmand fouled. That was looking very like 4-0

88 Corner far side won for Bodø. Gunderson wants in on his head as he makes his way forward. Not with a corner like that. Morita let's it run out the box 

Plus three shown 

90 Faye cross deflects off a defender outstretched foot and brings a save from the keeper

90 Trincão tries to lift the ball over Haikin from six yards but the flag was up 

+1 You imagine there's a few fans putting their tickets back on the market for next week's game 

+3 Inácio dispossessed and that sums up Sporting's night. Frankly that was dog shit

Full time 

FK Bodø/Glimt 3 Sporting CP 0

The final word 

So many times over the course of last season the accusation was levelled at us that we were a one man team which was a preposterous notion. Yet with the enforced absence of Araújo through suspension tonight we saw a Sporting side that looked like they were trying to do a jigsaw puzzle without the box. I've watched the likes of Mateus Nunes and William Carvalho at Sporting and was never overly impressed and wondered what all the fuss was about. That would be until they weren't playing and I'd have a lightbulb moment and go whatever it is they do, that's what's missing. With Araújo it's far more obvious with his absence. Just his presence makes Sporting 20% better on nights like these in the way that Gyökeres made Sporting infinitely better when he was on full form. Oh Maxi how we missed your bite, your guile, your heart and ability to bring belief to this team. If we didn't know how much his absence would cost us before a kick was made, well we do now. The other player who played such a huge success in the Champions League for Sporting CP this season will have been watching on no doubt from Napoli in the form of Alisson Santos. Nothing has changed my mind that we dropped a massive bollock letting him leave and bring in Guilherme. Two players that would have potentially been the difference makers in quality on a night like this where we leave so desperately short in every single area of the pitch. Tondela will be kicking themselves at not having a chance to put Sporting to the sword over the weekend. The lions will need to look at themselves very hard in the mirror after tonight.

All credit to Bodø though. When you out run the opposition by the best part of ten kilometres over the course of 90 minutes it's a damning statistic. When we lost 3-0 to BVB we were suffering from a lack of squad depth and a dirth of injuries. Yes we missed key players tonight but we should have been much better than we were. 

Sporting finally came alive after the half time break but never really looked like scoring for all their pressure. That we lost is no surprise, that we lost without scoring is however a surprise and at 2-1 I fully expected the lions to go on and press home their advantage at home but at 3-0 the tie is done. I'll take a win for the Portuguese coefficient but in reality we're probably just avoiding another pumping from Arsenal and all things considered losing to Bodø rather than have Gyökeres rub our noses in it seems like the better option upon reflection. 

Bodø put the hard work in over the opening 45 and whether you think the penalty was harsh or not it makes little difference when it's converted, you just have to play the hand youre dealt. I'm not convinced this Bodø team won't crumble if you land a blow on them. I felt it watching the tie against Inter in the knockout stages. Problem is we didn't land a single punch on them to actually find out. We have to hope that we land one on them in double quick time at the José Alvalade but the tie feels gone at 3-0. 

You could tell none of the players really got to grips with that pitch. Manchester City couldn't, neither could Inter and they're blessed with players of far more talent than we are. Everytime I see claims that Sporting are doing fine without Gyökeres because we've got Suárez I allow myself a good chuckle and think you've clearly never watched more than a set of statistics and a couple of 3 minute YouTube highlights. I can only hope he has a good World Cup and someone comes in for him during the summer because he's not good enough. I've said it all season he'll cost us a fortune and deliver nothing for it. Almería have been coining it in from us. Same goes for West Ham with Guilherme. The lady doth protest too much when they said they wanted to keep him. Nuno didn't let him anywhere near the West Ham first team and you think he's a better option that Alisson is? Fuck me. Don't get me wrong he seems a nice humble kid but he's not got the same hunger and drive that Alisson possesses and sometimes even if what you have is a little raw around the edges it's enough to carry you on to greatness. 

All season long I've read people having a pop at Fresneda and I feel like I'm the only one whose been giving him any credit for his performances. The calls for Vagiannidis to be given his opportunity loud and frequent. Well he looked as impressive as Fresneda did against Atalanta on his debut. OK maybe he wasn't that bad and I'm not convinced about the penalty but he was poor all night. Aerially Diomande and Inácio dominated but in fairness it didn't take Bodø much to work out that they'd be better off playing on the floor instead of trying to float crosses in and the less said about the third goal with Inácio the better. 

All night we saw Sporting with three at the back with Inácio and Diomande either side with either Simões, Hjulmand or Morita sat in between them. You'd have probably been better off rolling back twelve months and reinacting Debast into that midfield role if that was your game plan to start to try find a clever ball into the channels or over the top. It didn't work whatever the planned outcome was. Then again nothing really did anywhere on the pitch. I found it strange that Guilherme was brought out wide with Geny towards the end of the first half. It's not often that Rui Borges leaves me scratching my head. Not that I claim to be an expert but most of the time you can figure out the general sense of what he was trying to achieve game to game and unlike Amorim he does adapt even if it doesn't come off. 

Simões had a hard time in midfield but I suspect most midfielders would have a hard time against their midfield. Their pressure was relentless. I'm going to give my first vote for man of the match to Hjulmand because I've got to choose four and it's not going to be easy when I look across the performances from all involved. He battled, he showed heart where it was missing in pretty much everyone else. You don't ever get the feeling that he doesn't care. He's going to be a big miss next season. Morita other than a slip and a misplaced pass misjudging the speed of the pitch which all our players were guilty of, had a tidy cameo. 

Trincão who has impressed me with his tracking back so many times over the last 12 months looked like he'd given up at points. Guilherme had the best chance for Sporting first half but other than that barely raises a mention. I can't tell you what Bragança did other than a misplaced pass which nearly turned into the fourth goal for them. Luis Suárez spent half the game rolling on the floor moaning and it was like we'd signed Pepê from Porto. We saw him use his strength a couple of times to good effect but largely I looked at him and couldn't help but wonder if we'd have been better off having Thelma Encarnação up front instead. She'd have stayed on her feet longer that's for certain and it was hard to tell them apart in the black leggings. 

Anything good down the right once more came from Geny and the Bodø players weren't shy in stopping him and you'll probably find bits of him about the pitch if you look hard enough. He's going to be the key to getting anything out the second leg quite frankly and at this juncture he'd usually be my second pick. Instead I'm going to give it to Faye. Whilst his final ball was infuriating he did really impress me combining with Nuno Santos on the left and in turn he picks up my third vote though I'll have to forgive him for goal number three when one of him or Inácio had to do better. That defending was fucking criminal. Yet we suddenly had an outlet down the left flank and their combined link up play was probably the best thing to come out of a poor night for Sporting. 

Which leaves my final vote which goes to Fresneda who for me shone once more playing out of position. The more people give him pelters the more I'm going to double down on my praise for the lad. I genuinely think he's having a great season. His work rate is probably the only one that got anywhere near that of the Bodø players tonight and in terms of distance covered. Defensively sound and yes I get you can criticise his final ball into the box but only he knows what he's being asked to do from crosses because there's a big chance that Borges wants him simply to put the ball into the six yard box and it's the other players who aren't following the instructions and making the runs where he's been told to play it into. I'll let you ruminate on that thought and carry it on into future games. Fresneda is my man of the match.

Now I've got to try find something interesting to write about before the return leg. More chance of a Sporting comeback as it stands.