Bodø/Glimt face a Champions League playoff tie against Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, and the opposition’s manager has made clear he is not looking forward to the challenge. In comments picked up by Norwegian outlet Avisa Nordland, the Nijmegen boss described Glimt as a “machine team” and admitted he would rather have drawn anyone else.
The playoff round is set to decide who advances toward the group stage, with significant prize money on the line. According to coverage from Norsk Tipping, the winner of this tie could secure a Norwegian Champions League double and earn massive revenue, underlining the financial stakes for both clubs.
Avisa Nordland reports that the Nijmegen coach’s praise comes with a clear warning for his own squad. He highlighted Glimt’s relentless, systematic style of play, which he believes makes them particularly difficult to break down over two legs. The Norwegian champions have built a reputation for high-pressing, coordinated football, and that reputation now precedes them in European competition.
Bodø/Glimt’s official channels have also issued practical guidance for supporters travelling to the Netherlands for the away leg, according to the club’s own statement. That suggests the tie is close at hand, with fans expected to follow the team abroad in significant numbers.
The matchup pits a club with growing European pedigree against a Dutch side eager to prove itself on the continental stage. Nijmegen’s manager may not have wanted this draw, but he now has to find a way to stop a team he openly calls a machine.
What to watch next: whether Bodø/Glimt can carry their domestic form into the playoff and take a step closer to the Champions League group stage.
