Preview: Bodo/Glimt vs. Tromso IL
Tromso IL will be hoping to close the gap on Norwegian Eliteserien leaders Bodo/Glimt when they travel to Aspmyra Stadion on Sunday.
There are 11 points between the hosts in first and the visitors in third place, although Bodo/Glimt have played a game more than their forthcoming opponents.
Indeed, having won the club’s first ever top flight titles in 2020 and 2021, Bodo/Glimt are in an excellent position to claim their third title in four years after finishing second last time out.
Three straight league wins have kept Kjetil Knutsen’s side nine points clear of their closest rivals Viking FK, while they have also moved into the semi-final of the Norwegian Cup, which is a competition they have not lifted since 1993.
Moreover, Den Gule Horde secured an excellent 3-0 victory against Bohemians in the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League on Thursday, pushing them one step closer to competing in the group stage of European competition for the third successive season.
Knutsen will be aiming to keep his players’ feet collectively on the ground for now, though, especially as claiming all three points on Sunday would likely knock another title contender out of the picture at this stage of proceedings.
Tromso, meanwhile, have never won Norway’s top flight, with their best efforts being when finishing second in 1990 and 2011, as well as claiming third spot in 1989, 2008 and 2010.
Having only been promoted three years ago before finishing 12th and seventh in the last two renditions of the Eliteserien, to be sitting as high as third in the table after playing 15 matches represents a solid achievement for Gaute Helstrup and his players.
Seven wins from their last 10 league games suggests this run of form is no fluke, although they would have been disappointed to be knocked out of the Norwegian Cup by their forthcoming opponents last month.
Their latest victory was an impressive 3-1 win against high-flying SK Brann last weekend, jumping above their opponents in the table in the process. However, if they are to retain any realistic ambitions of claiming their maiden Eliteserien title, they surely must return from Bodo with all three points this weekend.
Bodo/Glimt Norwegian Eliteserien form:
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Bodo/Glimt form (all competitions):
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Tromso IL Norwegian Eliteserien form:
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We say: Bodo/Glimt 2-1 Tromso IL
Both teams head into this top-of-the-table clash in excellent form, but there is little doubt that Bodo/Glimt have been the most impressive team in Norway across recent years, as they look set to claim a top two finish for the fifth successive season.
Of course, Knutsen will be more focused on winning their third title in four seasons, and we expect them to move a step closer towards achieving that aim by narrowly claiming all three points on Sunday.