UEFA Champions League first-timers NEC Nijmegen are 180 minutes from entering the league phase and joining Europe's elite but the Dutch side face a stern test against Bodo/Glimt, one of Europe's major upstarts across recent seasons.
The Norwegian side reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals in 2024/25 and the last-16 in the UEFA Champions League last season, knocking out Inter Milan along the way.
They have retained the services of manager Kjetil Knutsen, the key piece in their jigsaw, and can bring an advantage back to their home in northern Norway.
NEC Nijmegen v Bodo/Glimt Tips Summary
Best Bet – Over 3.5 Goals @ 11/10
Alternative Bet – Jens Petter Hauge Anytime Goalscorer @ 11/5
Bet Builder – Bodo/Glimt to win, Both Teams to Score, Bryan Linssen 1+ Shots on Target & Patrick Berg 1+ Shots on Target @ 6/1
NEC Nijmegen v Bodo/Glimt Prediction
Best Bet: Over 3.5 Goals @ 11/10
These sides both have reason for optimism and picking a winner in the first leg is tough. Bodo/Glimt will feel they can get the job done back on home soil at their fortress with a positive first leg result but they are a real danger here too.
They scored three times in Belgium against Union Saint-Gilloise in the previous round as the sides traded six goals. The second leg saw four goals shared in normal time before Bodo/Glimt edged it late in extra-time.
Including that additional 30 minutes, Bodo/Glimt have scored 21 times in eight games since resuming from their World Cup break.
NEC Nijmegen have lost just one of their last eight home games (W4, D3) and showed courage to come from behind against Olympiacos last week, although they got a helping hand when the Greeks were reduced to 10 men.
It was a raucous atmosphere at the Goffertstadion then and that should be replicated now.
Bodo/Glimt like to play front-foot football and that may force the hand of their hosts, who will be acutely aware of the need to bring some positivity into their trip to Norway next week. Expect lots of goals in the first leg. NEC's league games last season averaged 3.82 per game and they scored four against Willem II at the weekend.
Alternative Bet: Jens Petter Hauge Anytime Goalscorer @ 11/5
Jens Petter Hauge began his career at Bodo and is back now after spells at the likes of AC Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt.
He starred on the left of a front three against Union Saint-Gilloise, setting up Ole Blomberg for the opening goal and scoring his side's second.
Hauge has three goals and two assists in his last four appearances despite completing more than 45 minutes just twice. He had nine touches in the opposition box against Union last week and can continue his fine form in the Netherlands.
NEC Nijmegen v Bodo/Glimt Bet Builder Tip
Bodo/Glimt to win
Both Teams to Score
Bryan Linssen 1+ Shots on Target
Patrick Berg 1+ Shots on Target
Pays 6/1
Though this contest looks evenly matched, Bodo/Glimt may have the European know-how to engineer a win. Knutsen has been linked with a move way repeatedly but appears content in his homeland and his presence is key to the Bodo/Glimt project.
They have, though, conceded those five goals over two legs in the previous round and their hosts can at least make an impact on the scoreboard in what promises to be an open, attacking contest.
To that end, shots on target for Bryan Linssen and Patrick Berg complete the bet builder.
Linssen has scored in successive games against Olympiacos and Willem II and should at least get chances here. Berg, the Bodo skipper, had a goal and an assist away at Union Saint-Gilloise and had five shots in the second leg in Norway.
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Key Match Stats
NEC Nijmegen are competing in European competition for just the fifth time and the first time since 2009.
The Dutch side eliminated Olympiacos after extra-time in the previous round.
Bodo/Glimt are in their fifth UEFA Champions League campaign since 2021. They reached the last-16 in 2025/26, registering wins over Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan.
The Norwegians were 6-5 winners on aggregate against Union Saint-Gilloise in the last round.
Bodo/Glimt have won six of their last eight games (D2), scoring 21 goals and conceding six times.
NEC have won just one of four games this season (D2) having lost four and drawn one of seven in pre-season.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
