The 2024-25 season has been anything and everything except fun for Tottenham Hotspur, but Ange Postecoglou’s side is now 90 (or 120) minutes from lifting a trophy after beating Bodo/Glimt 2-0, and 5-1 on aggregate, to reach the Europa League final on Thursday.
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Spurs were 3-1 up after the home leg last week and it took a measured, composed effort in Norway to reach a European final for the first time since the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League final, which Mauricio Pochettino and Co., lost to Liverpool. Bodo/Glimt were the side on the front foot for more than an hour, though Spurs were solid defensively and kept them at arm’s length the whole time.
All Tottenham Hotspur needed was one goal to put the tie to bed, and finally it came in the 64th minute. Dominic Solanke, who bagged the winner from the penalty spot against Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarterfinals, was in the right place at the right time for a real poacher’s goal as Cristian Romero soared above the crowd at the back post and headed the ball back across goal. Solanke slid in to turn home his 5th Europa League goal and 15th in all competitions this season. Pedro Porro put the icing on the cake five minutes later, when his cross got away from him, pinged the inside of the far post and went in.
It’ll be Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur in an all-Premier League final — 15th vs 16th at the moment — in Bilbao, Spain on May 21, with a place in next season’s Champions League on the line.
Player ratings - Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur
What’s next?
- Tottenham Hotspur vs Crystal Palace — Sunday, 9:15 am ET
- Aalesund vs Bodo/Glimt — Monday — 1 pm ET
Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur live updates - by Andy Edwards
Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur final score: 0-2 (1-5 agg.)
Goalscorers: Dominic Solanke (64'), Pedro Porro (69')
GOAL! Bodo/Glimt 0-2 (1-5 agg.) Spurs: Porro’s cross soars long and finds its way in (69')
Meant it 😉 pic.twitter.com/ela2NTOBBr
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 8, 2025
GOAL! Bodo/Glimt 0-1 (1-4 agg.) Spurs: Solanke pokes home after Romero heads it down (64')
Dominic Solanke fires ahead in the match 💥
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 8, 2025
Spurs have one foot in to the #UEL final 👀 pic.twitter.com/DCfd283cQH
Bodo/Glimt starting lineup
Haikin - Sjovold, Moe, Gundersen, Bjorkan - Berg, Saltnes, Evjen - Blomberg, Hauge, Hogh
Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup
Vicario - Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie - Bentancur, Bissouma, Kulusevski - Johnson, Richarlison, Solanke
How to watch Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Thursday (May 8)
Venue: Aspmyra Stadion — Bodo
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg in north London last Thursday, Norwegian upstarts Bodo/Glimt know they are up against it. But they always have been and that hasn’t fazed them so far, plus they have plenty of key players set to return for this second leg. The late goal they scored at Spurs last week could be crucial and Bodo/Glimt are very good at home, as their tiny Aspmyra Stadion holds just over 8,000 fans and has an artificial pitch which could level the playing fields significantly. In the knockout rounds of the Europa League they’ve won all three home games by an aggregate score of 10-2. An early goal for Bodo/Glimt will get Spurs’ nerves jangling and create quite the stir in northern Norway. No team has ever overturned a two-goal deficit when playing away in the first leg of the Europa League semifinal to reach the final, but minnows Bodo/Glimt love proving everyone wrong.
Spurs and Ange Postecoglou know they have more than one foot in the Europa League final in Bilbao where they will likely face Manchester United, a team they’ve already beaten three times in all competitions this season. That makes Spurs the favorites for this competition, just, but they have to finish off the job in Norway first. They were clinical and ruthless in the first half against Bodo/Glimt last week but Ange will have been disappointed with conceding a late goal and Spurs have suffered more injuries ahead of this second leg. Given their entire season depends on winning the Europa League the pressure is on, as they’re set for their worst-ever finish in the Premier League. But that awful league season will not matter if they win this competition and get back into the UEFA Champions League. Remember: Ange always wins a trophy in his second season at a club...
Bodo/Glimt team news, focus
Captain Patrick Berg, plus midfielder Hakon Evjen and striker Andreas Helmersen are all available after being suspended for the first leg which is a big boost for Bodo/Glimt. Defenders Ole Blomberg and Daniel Bassi both missed the first leg through injury, while the reigning Norwegian champions haven’t had a game since the first leg so have had a full week to prepare for the second leg. They will look to make Spurs uncomfortable and set pieces and counters will be crucial. An early goal for the hosts would change everything.
Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus
Spurs have lost Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison to injury for the rest of the season. That is a real blow to Spurs’ hopes of winning the Europa League as the midfield creativity from that duo has been key at crucial moments in this competition. Dominic Solanke is expected to be fit to lead the line, while captain Heung-min Son is close to a return but it seems like this game will come too soon. Spurs rested plenty of key players in their draw at West Ham on Sunday as their full focus is on winning the Europa League. Their season comes down to this and it’s all about holding their nerve and putting in a professional, solid display to reach the final. Center backs Van de Ven and Romero will be key, while Vicario has to be solid and steady.
OUT: Radu Dragusin (torn ACL), Lucas Bergvall (ankle), James Maddison (knee)| QUESTIONABLE: Heung-min Son (foot)
Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction
This feels like it could get a bit dicey for Spurs after the late goal for Bodo/Glimt in the first leg. They will get through but this team never seem to make it easy. Bodo/Glimt 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham Hotspur win 4-3 on aggregate).
