Twente and Bodø/Glimt are set to deliver one of the most entertaining matches of the Europa League knockout round, as both teams are known for their attacking intent. Twente are considered favourites, but the Norwegian side have built a reputation for being a tough opponent in Europe.
Twente suffered setbacks in January, crashing out of the KNVB Cup against Go Ahead Eagles (1:3) and losing to Breda (1:2) in the league. However, these defeats served as valuable lessons, as they responded with eight goals in their next four matches. Their European form has been solid, having defeated Malmö (3:2) and Beşiktaş (1:0) while accumulating 4.44 xG across these fixtures. Over the weekend, Twente played out a 3:3 draw against Heerenveen, a match shaped by an early red card for Mees Hilgers.
Bodø/Glimt are yet to begin their domestic season, but their performances in the Europa League group stage have been impressive. They beat Maccabi Haifa (3:1) and earned a 1:1 draw away to Nice, where they outshot the Ligue 1 side (7-3 on target). Manager Kjetil Knutsen remains committed to high-pressing football, which has resulted in six over 2.5 goal matches in eight group stage games.
This encounter is expected to be an open affair, with both teams thriving in attack. Given their aggressive playing styles, we should see plenty of goal-scoring opportunities.
