The first leg of the Champions League qualifying play-off round will see N.E.C. host Bodø/Glimt, with the match taking place 19 August 2026 at 15:00 EDT / 12:00 PDT at the Goffertstadion in Nijmegen.
The Dutch side are only just easing into the season, while the Norwegians are in the thick of theirs. N.E.C. are still searching for their identity after a major summer sell-off, while Bodø/Glimt sit top of the Norwegian league and have already come through against Belgium's Union SG. Add in their spring Champions League campaign, with a run to the Round of 16, and it becomes clear why the hosts are being overrated here.
Bodø/Glimt approach the match at the peak of their season. The Norwegians are top of the Eliteserien: 17 rounds, 13 wins and a goal difference of 43:12. NEC have played only two matches in the new league campaign — a 1:2 home defeat to Telstar and a 4:1 thrashing of Willem II. The difference in match sharpness is obvious.
Last spring, Kjetil Knutsen's side knocked Inter out of the Champions League. The 2:1 win at the San Siro and 5:2 aggregate score were not a one-off, but an indication of how the Norwegians perform away to opponents of a higher calibre. In the third round of this qualifying campaign, they drew 3:3 in Brussels before finishing off Union at home.
Defence is the main argument for the visitors. Bodø/Glimt concede an average of 0.71 goals per match, compared with 1.56 for NEC. Dick Schreuder's system with three centre-backs and a high line generates intense pressing, but leaves space in behind. Jens Petter Hauge and Ole Didrik Blomberg are made for exactly those areas.
Nijmegen lost their core over the summer. Bashar Önal joined Lille for €12.5 million, Kodai Sano moved to PSV, while the club let Dirk Proper and Jasper Cillessen leave. They signed free agents instead: Dusan Tadic, Perr Schuurs and Emre Mor. There is experience, but no cohesion.
Eliminating Olympiacos sounds impressive, but it was difficult. At home, NEC snatched victory only in extra time and only after the Greeks had a player sent off in the 80th minute. Before that, there had been two goalless halves in Piraeus. This is a team that endures rather than dictates play.
The Norwegians arrive in better condition, with a more reliable defence and genuine experience of European spring campaigns. We are backing the visitors.
François Letexier (France)
Matches - 15 (international fixtures, 2025-2026);
Average fouls per match - 20;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) - 3.1;
Matches with a red card - 1 of 15;
Matches with a penalty - 5 of 15.
|
Dick Schreuder
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Gonzalo Alejandro Crettaz Ortega
|
gk. | 3 | 0 |
|
Brayann Leanceley Christva Pereira
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Clement Mutahi Bischoff
|
df. | 3 | 1 |
|
Deveron Fonville
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Tobias Storm
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Darko Nejašmić
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Noé Lebreton
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Tjaronn Inteff Chefren Chery
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Bryan Catharina Anna Petronella Linssen
|
fw. | 3 | 1 |
|
Dušan Tadić
|
fw. | 3 | 0 |
|
Emre Mor
|
fw. | 3 | 1 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Nikolas Polster
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Almugera Raouf Mohammed Kabar
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Bram Johannes André Nuytinck
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Gabriel Costa Brás
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Thomas Ouwejan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jamiro Gregory Monteiro Alvarenga
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Adam Tahaui
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Isak Hansen-Aarøen
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Willum Þór Willumsson
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Kaj Sierhuis
|
fw. | 2 | 0 |
|
Kevin Kers
|
fw. | 2 | 0 |
|
Vito van Crooij
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kjetil Knutsen
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Nikita Haikin
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fredrik André Bjørkan
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Haitam Aleesami
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Odin Lurås Bjørtuft
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Fredrik Sjøvold
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jens Petter Hauge
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ole Didrik Blomberg
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Patrick Berg
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sondre Auklend
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sondre Brunstad Fet
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Andreas Klausen Helmersen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Hindrin Najah Chooly
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Martin Lund Andersen
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Julian Rekdahl Faye Lund
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Isak Dybvik Määttä
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Villads Schmidt Nielsen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Joel Mugisha Mvuka
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Joshua Gaston Kitolano
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kasper Johansen Solhaug
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ulrik Saltnes
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Daniel Joshua Bassi Jakobsen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ola Brynhildsen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
NEC Nijmegen
Olympiacos Piraeus
Olympiacos Piraeus
NEC Nijmegen
Bodo Glimt
Saint-Gilloise
Saint-Gilloise
Bodo Glimt
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
9
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
10
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
11
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
15
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
16
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
18
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:1 | 3 |
|
2
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:0 | 3 |
|
3
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
4
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
5
|
Como
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:1 | 3 |
|
6
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
8
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
9
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
10
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
14
|
Manchester City
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Aston Villa
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Betis
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
Arsenal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
AS Roma
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
5
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
6
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
7
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
8
|
PSG
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
9
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
11
|
Manchester United
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
12
|
Como
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
14
|
Stuttgart
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
15
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
16
|
Liverpool
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
17
|
Real Madrid
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
18
|
AEK Athens
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
19
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
20
|
PSV
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
21
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
22
|
Brugge
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
23
|
Lille
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
24
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
25
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
26
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
27
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:1 | 0 |
|
28
|
Napoli
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
29
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
30
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
31
|
Porto
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0:0 | 0 |
|
32
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
33
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:5 | 0 |
|
34
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
35
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
36
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:5 | 0 |
