Bodo/Glimt Vs KI Klaksvik
Bodo/Glimt Vs KI Klaksvik Wednesday, 6 July – 17:00 (BST)
UEFA Champions League Qualification
Pick: Bodo/Glimt Win & Both Teams to Score
Odds: 11/4
Bookmaker: Boylesports
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 4 July 2022)
Preview: We’re back to two-legged qualifiers in UEFA competition, and the long journey to the group stage of the Champions League begin in Bodo, Norway, for the reigning league champions from Norway and Faroe Islands, respectively, Bodo/Glimt and Ki Klaksvik.
UEFA Champions League Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Bodo/Glimt – Start of another whirlwind European adventure?
Norwegian Eliteserien holders Bodo/Glimt were eliminated in the first qualifying round for the Champions League last term, but were drawn against stiff opposition in the shape of then-Polish champions Legia Warsaw. Undeterred, Kjetil Knutsen’s domestic winners went and defeated sides from Kosovo, Iceland and Lithuania – all to nil in Bodo, Norway – to secure group stage football in the Europa League.
That marked the club’s first foray into the group stage of UEFA competition, and they sure made the most of it, winning all six home games by a combined aggregate of 17-4, netting two or more each time, on their way to a memorable quarter-final run. They were eventually ousted by Roma, the same side they had famously routed 6-1 on Norwegian soil in the group. So should, in theory, breeze this first-leg.
Key Stat: Bodo/Glimt are the reigning Norwegian league champions. However they currently sit sixth (W5 D4 L3) in Eliteserien, beaten 3-2 away from home by Odd BK over the weekend as they failed to win for the third league game in the last nine (W3 D3 L3).
Ki Klaksvik – Faroese minnows know the challenge is huge?
Champions of the Faroe Islands for a nineteenth time in 2021-22, KI Klaksvik would have been hoping for a kinder draw as they seek to reach the group stage of a major European competition for the first time. In the previous two campaigns, they found the gulf in quality often too large to bridge, winning three of nine qualifying encounters since the start of 2019-20 – and two of those were against San Marino’s Tre Fiori.
Away from home, Klaksvik were defeated 3-1 in their two away European contests last season, succumbing to Young Boys and Dundalk or Switzerland and Ireland respectively. On that evidence then, Wednesday’s visitors have plenty to find. Indeed, they would avoid losing in just five of sixteen European away games in their history, failing to score in nine. Although, they are going well domestically – currently in first place (W14 D1).
Key Stat: Klaksvik scored in all three away matches during last season’s European adventure, netting consolations in losses to Young Boys and Dundalk but managing three in a surprise 3-2 victory over Latvians FK RFS.
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Bodo/Glimt Vs Klaksvik Betting Advice
It comes as no surprise that the Norwegians are priced as near-certainties to win this first-leg. Bodo/Glimt were imperious at home in Europe last term and should sail into the next round courtesy of a comfortable home victory. However, whereas last term they would negotiate three out of four home qualifiers without conceding, I am not so sure there is much value to be had in their price of 1/2 about a win to nil.
Bodo/Glimt Vs Ki Klaksvik – Key Facts:
- Quarter-finalists in the Europa League last season, Bodo/Glimt won nine of ten home matches in Europe during 2021-22, scoring 23 and conceding 7.
- Opponents Ki Klaksvik reached the Europa League play-offs last time round but were prevented from going any further by Ireland’s Dundalk. Three of their five qualifiers last season were on the road, winning one of those games (W1 L2) whilst scoring in each.
- Both teams are defending league titles in Norway and the Faroe Islands. However, Bodo/Glimt languish in sixth place through 12 games of the ongoing Eliteserien campaign, whereas Ki Klaksvik sit atop the Premier League in the Faroes.
In fact, I am prepared to take the hosts on in that regard. It hasn’t been the most assured defence to their Norwegian crown, with Bodo conceding in 10 of 12 games thus far, which includes five of six at their Aspmyra Stadion. Opponents Klaksvik are a step down in quality, sure, but scored across all three away qualifiers last term (five in all). They’ve started the season well, too, averaging 2.88 goals away from home.
Best Betting Odds – Bodo/Glimt Vs Ki Klaksvik
Bodo/Glimt -1/9 (Coral)
Draw – 10/1 (10Bet)
Ki Klaksvik – 40/1 (WilliamHill)
