The first leg of the 2025/26 Champions League round-of-16 tie between Bodo/Glimt (Norway) and Sporting (Portugal) will take place on 11 March at the Aspmyra Stadion. Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting: prediction, betting odds and statistics.
Bodo/Glimt
Bodo/Glimt have produced what is so far the biggest shock of the 2025/26 Champions League. In the play-off ties, the team managed to knock out Inter, following up a home win (3:1) with an away victory by a score of 2:1. Overall, the club have won four straight matches in the Champions League, but in none of them have they managed to keep a clean sheet. What is more, the side have conceded in 11 consecutive games in this competition. Even so, that has not stopped them from becoming the first Norwegian representative to progress beyond a stage of the Champions League knockout rounds.
- The Scandinavian side have scored at least twice in six straight Champions League games.
- On home soil in this competition, the club have won 10 of their last 13 matches (1 draw, 2 defeats).
- In 11 of the previous 13 home Champions League matches, the Norwegians have not conceded more than one goal.
Potential Bodo/Glimt Lineup (4-3-3)
Nikita Haikin – Fredrik Sjovold, Odin Bjortuft, Haitam Aleesami, Fredrik Bjorkan – Patrick Berg, Sondre Fet, Sondre Auklend – Ole Blomberg, Jens Petter Hauge, Kasper Hogh.
Sporting
Sporting finished seventh in the league phase. The team avoided defeat in six of eight matches (five wins, one draw), but conceded 11 goals, and among the top-eight sides only Barcelona had a worse defensive record (14). However, it is worth noting that the Portuguese side scored in every match of the main round. The club have reached the round of 16 only for the third time in the 21st century, but they have not yet managed to get past this stage. Their chances of ending that run look decent: Sporting have won five of their last six European matches against opponents from Norway.
- At least three goals have been scored in seven of Sporting's last eight Champions League games.
- Away from home in this competition, the club have failed to win six of their previous seven matches (2 draws, 4 defeats).
- In six of their last seven away Champions League matches, the team have not scored more than once.
Potential Sporting Lineup (4-5-1)
Rui Silva – Ivan Fresneda, Goncalo Inacio, Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande – Morten Hjulmand, Joao Simoes, Geny Catamo, Hidemasa Morita, Francisco Trincao – Luis Suarez.
Maximiliano Araujo (defender) and Pedro Goncalves (midfielder) are suspended. Forward Geovany Quenda is injured.
Referee
Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)
Matches – 8 (international fixtures, 2025/26);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 34;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.3;
Red cards shown – 0;
Fouls per match on average – 26;
Penalties – 25%.
Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting: Match Prediction
After an unconvincing start, few people believed in Bodo/Glimt - probably not even their own supporters. But towards the end of the main round the team beat Manchester City and Atletico, and in the play-offs they eliminated the leaders of the Italian league. What is more, against opponents of that calibre, Kjetil Knutsen's side scored at least twice. The club have had no issues with goals even when not at their best. The Norwegians' scoring run in the Champions League now stands at six matches. However, there are questions about their defence: the team have conceded in 11 consecutive games in this competition.
Matches involving Sporting are traditionally high-scoring affairs. The team play themselves and allow opponents to do the same. The Lisbon side scored in every game of the group stage, and in five cases they found the net at least twice. However, they managed to keep a clean sheet only once.
The hosts have a recipe for success which they are unlikely to deviate from. And given the visitors' results, the chances of seeing a high-scoring match are very high.
Prediction: Over 2.5 goals
