Champions League Preview: Bodø/Glimt Aim for Champions League Proper, Riga FC Already Making Club History

On the evening of July 23 at 23:00, the Champions League will host the first leg of a second-round tie, with Bodø/Glimt playing at home against visiting Riga FC.

Bodø/Glimt is a powerhouse from the Norwegian Eliteserien. The team won the Norwegian league title last season, securing a spot in the Champions League qualifiers. This season, they remain at the top of the domestic league table, and their goal is clear: to retain the league title while aiming to progress as far as possible in the Champions League.

In the Champions League, Bodø/Glimt’s best performance in recent years was reaching the playoff round after advancing through three qualifying rounds in the 2022-23 season. However, they faced Dinamo Zagreb and, despite leading 1-0 in the first leg, were tied 2-1 in regular time in the second leg, ultimately losing 4-2 on aggregate after extra time. This season, with a strong squad, Bodø/Glimt hopes to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

In this season’s Norwegian league, Bodø/Glimt has a record of 11 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses, accumulating 36 points and sitting atop the league table. However, Brann, trailing by just six points, keeps them under pressure. In these 16 games, the team scored 36 goals and conceded 13. Their offensive performance is commendable, but conceding nearly one goal per game in a league like the Norwegian Eliteserien means they need to improve defensively in the Champions League.

Riga FC is a team from the Latvian Higher League. They also secured a spot in the Champions League qualifiers by winning the league title last season. This season, like their opponents, their goal is to retain the league title while achieving good results in the Champions League.

This team has risen in recent years. Before 2021, they were an unknown mid-table team. In the 2023 season, they made history by reaching the Champions League qualifiers for the first time. However, they were eliminated by HJK Helsinki in the first round, after losing 0-1 in the first leg and drawing 2-1 in the second leg, eventually falling short in the penalty shootout. It’s hard not to be impressed by such a performance in their debut Champions League appearance. In this season’s Champions League, the team thrashed Larne 7-0 over two legs in the first round, demonstrating a completely different form compared to last year.

In this season’s league, the team has a record of 18 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses in the first 22 games, accumulating 56 points and currently leading the league table. In these 22 games, they scored 68 goals and conceded only 15. Domestically, they have shown dominance, and with a balanced attack and defense, they have already made history in the Champions League. Whether they can continue to break records will depend on these upcoming matches.

The two teams have never faced each other before. However, Bodø/Glimt’s squad value is approximately 32 million euros, while Riga FC’s total squad value is less than 10 million euros, indicating a clear gap in strength. Nevertheless, miracles often happen on the football pitch. Both teams are known for their attacking style, and in the first leg, both will likely field their strongest attacking lineups to create an advantage. This could result in an exciting offensive battle.

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