Tottenham Hotspur are halfway through to a Europa League final showdown with Manchester United after a dominant 3-1 home win over Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the semifinals on Thursday.
MORE - Europa League semifinal schedule & results
Spurs wasted no time whatsoever and were on the board after just 38 seconds, as Brennan Johnson headed home from close range and set the tone for a raucous evening in north London. It was 2-0 after 34 minutes, courtesy of James Maddison’s fantastic touch and finish, courtesy of Pedro Porro’s even more spectacular diagonal ball over the top.
Dominic Solanke made it 3-0 from the penalty spot just after the hour mark and the final score should have been even more lopsided, with Spurs out-shooting Bodo/Glimt 24-3 and racking up a gaudy xG advantage (3.04-0.26), but in true Tottenham Hotspur fashion the hosts left the door open to uncertainty and danger by conceding a late goal from nothing. Ulrik Saltnes wriggled free with three defenders surrounding him in all directions and found the back of the net on 83 minutes, planting not only the seed of doubt in Spurs’ minds but, more importantly, one of hope for themselves.
Manchester United hold a 3-0 advantage in the other semifinal after beating Athletic Bilbao in Estadio de San Mames, where the Europa League final will be played on May 21.
How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Bodo/Glimt live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Thursday (May 1)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — London
TV/Streaming: Paramount+
Tottenham Hotspur vs Bodo/Glimt live updates - by Andy Edwards
Tottenham Hotspur vs Bodo/Glimt final score: 3-1
Goalscorers: Brennan Johnson (1'), James Maddison (34'), Dominic Solanke (62' - PK), Ulrik Saltnes (83')
GOAL! Spurs 3-1 Bodo/Glimt: Saltnes wriggles free and pulls one back (83')
FK Bodø/Glimt find a lifeline through Ulrik Saltnes 💫 pic.twitter.com/1xvg6ilhqj
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 1, 2025
GOAL! Spurs 3-0 Bodo/Glimt: Solanke converts from the penalty spot (62')
Dominic Solanke makes no mistake from the penalty spot 🎯 pic.twitter.com/684JAMNO7B
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 1, 2025
GOAL! Spurs 2-0 Bodo/Glimt: Maddison gets on the end of a brilliant ball from Porro (34')
James Maddison finishes off a ridiculous pass from Pedro Porro 🤯 pic.twitter.com/aaU7sFi9qJ
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 1, 2025
GOAL! Spurs 1-0 Bodo/Glimt: Johnson heads home Richarlison’s header (1')
Spurs off to a perfect start! 👊
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 1, 2025
Pedro Porro whips its to Richarlison who finds Brennan Johnson for a clinical header! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/T24vr3aBfm
Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup
Vicario - Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie - Bissouma, Bentancur, Maddison - Johnson, Richarlison, Solanke
Bodo/Glimt starting lineup
Haikin - Sjovold, Gundersen, Nielsen, Bjorkan - Fet, Saltnes, Hauge - Maatta, Blomberg, Hogh
Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs are the heavy favorites to beat Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt and reach the Europa League final against either Athletic Bilbao or Manchester United. But can Spurs hold their nerve? A much-changed Spurs were hammered 5-1 at Liverpool on Sunday when Postecoglou rested several key players as the Europa League is their main focus. They currently sit 16th in the Premier League table and are on course for their worst league finish since 1977 as they haven’t finished outside of the top eight of the Premier League since 2008. All of the pressure is on Spurs.
Bodo/Glimt have absolutely nothing to lose and nobody expected them to get this far in the competition, with the reigning Norwegian champs beating much-favored Lazio on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals after a wild topsy-turvy encounter in Rome. Bodo/Glimt have a brilliant home record in the Europa League this season, winning six of their seven home games so far and beating FC Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio in their home legs in the knockout rounds by a combined score of 10-2. If they can grab a draw at Spurs they will fancy their chances of reaching the final.
Tottenham Hotspur team news, focus
Spurs captain Heung-min Son has out with a foot issue in recent weeks and Postecoglou has confirmed he will not be fit to play some part in this semifinal first leg. Other than that it’s all about who will come back into the starting lineup for Spurs with Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven to start at center back, Pedro Porro at right back, while Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur will also start.
OUT: Heung-min Son (foot), Lucas Bergvall (ankle), Radu Dragusin (torn ACL - out for season)
Bodo/Glimt team news, focus
There will be several key players missing for Bodo/Glimt for this first leg with center back Odin Bjortuft going down with a groin injury at the weekend, while key trio Patrick Berg, Hakon Evjen and Andreas Helmersen are all suspended. Winger Ole Blomberg is also an injury doubt for Bodo/Glimt.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Bodo/Glimt prediction
Everything is building towards a comfortable home win for Spurs but they don’t like to make life easy for themselves. Still, the stars have aligned for them to take a big lead with them to Norway for the second leg. Tottenham 3-1 Bodo/Glimt.
