Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Champions League match.
In the past two Champions League qualifying rounds, Bodø/Glimt hadn't faced significant challenges from their opponents, but a competitor like Crvena Zvezda presents a much tougher test. Bookmakers favour the Norwegian club for the first leg, although the Serbian team has been in impressive form.
Bodø/Glimt
At the start of the second round of the national championship, Bodø secured a comfortable five-point lead over Brann, allowing them to focus on the European cup qualifiers. In their last ten matches across all competitions, the total over 2.5 has been surpassed seven times — their return leg against Jagiellonia (4-1) was a prime example of their scoring efficiency. At home, the team knocked out the Polish side with four goals in 30 minutes, taking 18 shots in 90 minutes.
Crvena Zvezda
Clearly, Crvena Zvezda's extensive experience in European competitions boosts their chances of advancing to the group stage. Crvena Zvezda kicked off the Serbian championship with 13 points in five matches, scoring 18 goals — no other team has reached double figures. Leading the charge for Belgrade is forward Peter Olayinka: the Nigerian has scored 2+1 in the last two matches, despite spending only 72 minutes on the field.
Bodø/Glimt - Crvena Zvezda Prediction
The first meeting between these evenly matched teams promises to be filled with numerous dangerous chances. Both Bodø/Glimt and Crvena Zvezda excel in attack, so we are waiting for the goals!
