If in 2025 the Norwegian club reached the semifinals of the Europa League, where they lost to Tottenham, now Bodo/Glimt is one step away from accessing the “quarters” of the Champions League. After eliminating Cristi Chivu's Inter, Kjetil Knutsen's team won the first leg of the “eighteen” duel with Sporting on Wednesday, score 3-0.
Cătălin Munteanu was not impressed by the visit from Bodo/Glimt: “Nothing “wow””
Catalin Munteanu47 years old, former champion of Romania, participated in the GSP Live show today. He recalled the meeting with Bodo/Glimt in 2023, counting for the Conference League preliminaries, when Munteanu was second coach at Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe.
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In August 2023, Sepsi faced Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Conference League play-off. The two legs were balanced (2-2, 3-2), Bodo scored the qualifying goal only in extra time of the second game, the 100th minute. The Covăsnens were coached at that time by Liviu Ciobotariu, who had Cătălin Munteanu as his second.
“We had the pleasure and the honor to play against Bodo/Glimt in 2023, when I was second coach at Sepsi. Then we were very, very close to defeating them. In the 88th minute, on the return, Ștefănescu shot from 30 meters, their goalkeeper made an extreme save. After that we lost in overtime. It was a balanced double with two draws.
They had the same coach, some current players. Here it is possible, and with less money.
We also had a goal disallowed for offside in extra time. All in all, it was a balanced “double”, declared Cătălin Munteanu, at GSP Live.
“A stadium like the 2nd League, and I understand”
As for Bodo/Glimt's infrastructure, Cătălin Munteanu says that “they have no “wow” conditions. Their pitch is synthetic. As changing rooms, as the number of seats in the stands, a stadium like the 2nd League, and I understand. But the pitch helps them a lot, in my opinion. You always play at home in the first leg, beat 3-0, 3-1, win and otherwise go away to Milan or Lisbon”.
“But we shouldn't take them for granted, it's a team that performs and will continue to do so. I don't see Sporting turning it back on the return, especially since Bodo plays good football, it's not a coincidence that they're going there. I anticipate that they'll score in Lisbon as well,” added Cătălin Munteanu.
Cătălin Munteanu, at the Aspmyra stadium
Compared to the Norwegian squad of 2023, Bodo/Glimt kept 10 players in the current squad: goalkeepers Nikita Haikin, Faye Lund, Isak Sjong, defenders Odin Bjortuft, Fredrik Bjorkan, Fredrik Sjovold, midfielders Patrick Berg, Ulrik Saltnes, Sondre Brunstad Fet, striker Daniel Bassi. Default manager Kjetil Knutsen, at the club since 2017.
