Spurs are facing their last big chance to salvage a disappointing season, while the Norwegian side dreams of continuing their historic run.

The Tottenham vs Bodo/Glimt Preview

This Thursday, Tottenham Hotspur hosts Bodo/Glimt in London for the first leg of the Europa League semifinals — a match that means much more than just a European fixture for the English club. Sitting 16th in the Premier League, Ange Postecoglou’s side has pinned all its hopes on this competition to avoid another titleless season and, more importantly, to qualify for next year’s Champions League.

The pressure is mounting on the Australian coach. An early exit could cost him his job. That’s why last weekend against Liverpool, in what was expected to be a celebratory match for the newly crowned champions, Spurs rotated heavily: eight regular starters were benched, including Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Dejan Kulusevski.

The goal is clear: field the best possible lineup on Thursday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and avoid another setback that would extend their trophy drought, which dates back to 2008, when they lifted the League Cup under Juande Ramos.

Bodo/Glimt: Dreaming big despite key absences

On the other side, a less experienced team arrives with the joy of making history. Bodo/Glimt, the first Norwegian club to reach a European semifinal, is dreaming big despite suffering key midfield absences. Neither captain Patrick Berg nor Håkan Evjen will play due to suspension, and Andreas Helmersen, the forward who scored the equalizer against Lazio in the previous round, is also out.

Coach Kjetil Knutsen is still hopeful to recover Bjørtuft and Blomberg, both doubtful due to injuries, but he will have two essential attacking weapons: winger Jens Petter Hauge and top scorer Albert Høgh, who leads the competition with seven goals, tied with Ayoub El Kaabi of Olympiacos.

“It’s kind of crazy that we’re here. We’re from a small city in the far north and we’ve achieved something that once seemed impossible,” said defender Jostein Gundersen. His teammate Fredrik André Bjørkan called it “incredible” and “unreal” to face Tottenham and spoke about enjoying “every moment.”

Despite dominating Norwegian football in recent years, Bodo/Glimt has a poor record against English sides — three defeats in three matches. Still, they arrive in London with hope and determination.

Here are all the goals: