Tottenham Hotspur managed to grind out an impressive 3-1 win at home vs Bodo/Glimt, and they will be confident of getting the job done in the second leg. Spurs will be desperate to make it to the final of the competition and win the UEFA Europa League this season.
It has been a disappointing season for Tottenham, and the European competition is their only salvation. They will look to win the tournament and finish the campaign on a high. The Lilywhites are coming into this game on the back of just two wins from their last six matches in all competitions. They will need to raise their performance levels to get a good result here.
On the other hand, the visitors have not played since the 3-1 defeat at the hands of the North London outfit. They will be well-rested here, and it remains to be seen whether they can turn things around at home. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Daniel Bassi is a doubt for the home team, but they have a fully fit squad to choose from, other than that. Bodo/Glimt will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation vs Tottenham Hotspur, with Nikita Haikin in goal.
Fredrik Sjovold and Fredrik Djorkan will start as the full-backs here, and they will look to keep things tight, defensively, and hit Tottenham on the break. Odin Bjortuft and Jostein Gundersen will pair up at the heart of the defence.
In the midfield, Ulrik Saltnes, Patrick Berg and Hakon Evjen will add control, composure, and defensive cover to the side. Jens Petter Hauge and Ole Blomberg will start on the flanks. They will look to create goalscoring opportunities and add flair, pace to the side. Finally, Kasper Hogh will lead the line for Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Djorkan; Evjen, Berg, Saltnes; Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge
Radu Dragusin misses out with a long-term knee injury, and Lucas Bergvall has a knee injury. James Maddison picked up a knee injury recently, and he misses out as well. Captain Son Heung-min will return for the finale if Tottenham manage to get there.
Tottenham Hotspur will shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Bodo/Glimt, with Guglielmo Vicario in goal. Pedro Porro and Djed Spence will start as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Cristian Romero will form the central defensive partnership alongside Micky van de Ven.
As for the midfield unit, Pape Matar Sarr will start alongside Yves Bissouma in the double pivot, and they will look to break down the opposition’s attacking moves. Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel will start on the flanks, and they will look to add pace and flair to the side.
Dejan Kulusevski will start as the attacking midfielder, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. Finally, Dominic Solanke will spearhead the Tottenham attack vs Bodo/Glimt on Thursday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bissouma, Sarr; Johnson Kulusevski, Tel; Solanke
The South American defender is our key player to watch out for. He is undoubtedly the best defender at the club, and Tottenham will need him to step up and produce a strong performance here. He will need to keep the back four organised and help Tottenham protect their advantage.
The home side are likely to pile on the pressure with an attacking approach here. They will need to overturn a two-goal deficit, and Tottenham must stay switched on defensively. Spurs have been quite vulnerable at the back this season, and they have conceded 13 goals in the last six matches across all competitions. They will need their leaders at the back to step up and get the job done. Romero could make a huge impact for his team here.
Both teams will be desperate for a positive result here, and this is likely to be an open game. The home team cannot afford to sit back and take a cautious approach here. They will need to make amends after the defeat in London.
Meanwhile, Tottenham will look to sit back and hit them on the counter. Both teams are likely to get on the score sheet here, but Tottenham have enough attacking depth to punish them and grind out a narrow victory. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Ange Postecoglou and his charges.
