Tottenham Hotspur edged closer to their first major trophy in 17 years with a convincing 3-1 victory over Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. Despite a late Glimt goal that offers a glimmer of hope for the hosts ahead of the return leg, Spurs produced one of their most composed performances of a difficult domestic season.
The game couldn’t have started better for Ange Postecoglou’s men. Just 38 seconds in, Brennan Johnson put Spurs ahead, heading in after Richarlison nodded a Pedro Porro cross into his path. It marked Johnson’s 17th goal of the season and gave Tottenham immediate control.
James Maddison doubled the lead midway through the first half with a moment of brilliance. Running onto Porro’s long ball, he controlled it deftly and slotted a precise finish into the bottom corner, threading the shot past three Glimt defenders. Spurs were cruising, and the visitors from Norway had no response.
Tottenham made it 3-0 after the break, with the video assistant referee spotting a foul on Cristian Romero. Dominic Solanke stepped up and coolly converted the penalty, rolling it into the net with trademark composure. It looked like Spurs might run away with the tie entirely.
Bodo/Glimt, however, struck back against the run of play. Ulrik Saltnes, captaining the side in the absence of the suspended Patrick Berg, rifled a shot into the top corner with the help of a deflection off Rodrigo Bentancur. It was their only shot on target and came during a second half where they dominated possession—holding 70% of the ball—but struggled to create clear chances.
That goal keeps the tie alive ahead of next week’s second leg in the Arctic Circle, where Glimt have a formidable home record. Their artificial pitch, combined with harsh conditions, has helped them claim home wins over European sides like Porto, Besiktas, Olympiakos, and Lazio. Since the start of the 2022–23 Europa League campaign, they have won 70% of their home games, compared to just 9% on the road.
For Spurs, the victory was marred only by injuries to key players. Both Maddison and Solanke were forced off in the second half, raising concerns about their availability for the return leg and the potential final.
Still, the result was a welcome break from Tottenham’s grim domestic form. They currently sit 16th in the Premier League and are enduring their worst league campaign since 1976–77. Ange Postecoglou, in his first season in charge, faces an uncertain future, with many speculating he may be dismissed regardless of European success. But a trophy would provide a silver lining and an unlikely route to Champions League qualification, which looks otherwise impossible given Spurs are 23 points off the top four.
Can the Europa League Rescue Tottenham ‘ Season?
Tottenham haven’t lifted a major trophy since the 2008 League Cup, despite hiring high-profile managers like Mauricio Pochettino, José Mourinho, and Antonio Conte in the interim. Each came close, but none could end the drought. Postecoglou, known for his attacking style, will be desperate to seize this chance.
Importantly, the Australian manager showed full respect for Bodo/Glimt—something he learned the hard way after the Norwegians eliminated his Celtic side from the Conference League with a 5-1 aggregate win three years ago. This time, his players were ready from the outset.
Spurs’ fast start was only the second time they’ve scored in the first minute of a European match, and they could have been out of sight by halftime. Bentancur forced a strong save with a volley, and Richarlison was a handful throughout.
Although Glimt had long spells of sterile possession, they rarely threatened until their fortunate goal. Even so, their reputation as giant-killers and strong home performers means Spurs must remain focused for the second leg at the Aspmyra Stadion.
If Tottenham avoid a slip-up in Norway, they will reach their fourth final in this competition’s history. They won the UEFA Cup in 1972 and 1984, and lost the 1974 final, all of which were two-legged affairs.
With Manchester United defeating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in their own semi-final, an all-English final in Bilbao on May 21 now looks highly probable. Spurs will be hoping their first-leg dominance proves enough—and that injuries don’t derail what could be a historic end to an otherwise forgettable season.