Zalgiris Vs Bodo/Glimt
Zalgiris Vs Bodo/Glimt Tuesday, 9 August 2022 – 17:00 (BST)
UEFA Champions League Qualification
Pick: Zalgiris or Draw (Double Chance)
Odds: 11/10
Bookmaker: 10Bet
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 7 August 2022)
Preview: A first ever UCL group stage participation is close to becoming reality for Bodo/Glimt. The Norwegians effectively killed this third round tie as a contest in the first leg, running up a 5-0 scoreline that surely leaves Zalgiris with too much to do.
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Table of Contents
Zalgiris – Lithuanians seeking redemptive performance?
Lithuania’s eight-time league champions experienced the Champions League third round for the first time a week ago. As momentous as the occasion was for them, the contest itself wasn’t one to savour. Beaten 5-0 out in Norway by opponents who were ruthless on the night. Zalgiris did threaten, though, a touch unfortunate, perhaps, not to come away with a consolation after managing nine attempts, three of them on target.
With the deficit all-but-insurmountable, it will be interesting to see how head coach Vladimir Cheburin approaches this return game. His team are level on points atop the Lithuanian A Lyga, albeit they have played several games fewer than the team in second, and so could decide bigger battles lie ahead. Particularly as the loser of this tie goes straight into the play-off round for the Europa League.
Key Stat: Zalgiris are unbeaten in their last three European home games, defeating Swedish side Malmo, 2-0, in Vilnius as a 3/1 outsider in the round prior.
Bodo/Glimt – Norwegians can afford to ease off?
A dominant display in Norway has meant Bodo/Glimt are a step closer to becoming only the third Norwegian representative in the Champions League, after Rosenborg (11 group stage appearances) and Molde (just the one). That bought their incredible run of results in European home games to 12 wins out of 12, upsetting the likes of AS Roma (twice) Celtic and AZ Alkmaar since the start of last season on their own patch.
As formidable as they are in Bodo, it is away from home where Kjetil Knutsen knows his team retains an enormous amount of room for improvement. Den Gule Horde have won only once across their ten previous away matches in Europe (D4 L6). Losing to both KI Klaksvik (3-1) and Linfield (1-0), of the Faroe Islands and Northern Ireland respectively, in the first and second qualifying rounds of this season’s competition.
Key Stat: The Norwegian side are chasing a sixth successive win in all competitions, racking up 27 goals for the loss of just one in winning each of their last five competitive fixtures.
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Zalgiris Vs Bodo/Glimt Betting Advice
The tie is essentially over at this stage. It would be easy to assume Zalgiris will play for pride, which they should do in order to preserve their respectable home record if nothing else. They’re unbeaten across their three previous European contests in Lithuania. Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt can afford to coast through this second leg, saving legs for a competitive league campaign and forthcoming UCL play-off tie.
Zalgiris Vs Bodo/Glimt – Key Facts:
- Although well beaten in that first leg encounter, Zalgiris will feel they are capable of restoring some creditable back in Lithuania. They have tasted defeat on just three occasions in their 13 previous European home matches (W6 D4).
- There is also no guarantee Bodo/Glimt, who have failed to register a win in nine of ten previous away contests in Europe (D4 L5), will be as clinical in Lithuania as in Norway.
- There have been Under 2.5 Goals in seven of the nine previous European games involving Zalgiris, but only one of eleven Bodo/Glimt games in Europe in 2022.
Whether all of that comes to fruition, however, really does remain to be seen. Even so, it seems unlikely we will see a repeat of last week’s one-sided affair. There is even recent precedent, what with the sides playing to a 2-2 draw at this venue only last season for a place in the Europa Conference League group stage. Moreover, Malmo FF, who made their UCL group stage debut last term, came undone here in the previous round.
Best Betting Odds – Zalgiris Vs Bodo/Glimt
Zalgiris – 10/3 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 11/4 (Bet365)
Bodo/Glimt – 4/5 (WilliamHill)
