In one of the most memorable nights in the club’s history, Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt delivered a shock 2-0 victory over Italian heavyweights Lazio in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final, played amid snow-cleared pitches and Arctic winds at the Aspmyra Stadion.
The tightly contested first half gave little away, with both sides adapting to the frosty conditions in northern Norway. But it was the home side who emerged with fire after the break, breaking the deadlock just two minutes into the second half.
Ulrik Saltnes, the captain and long-time club servant, found the back of the net with a close-range finish in the 47th minute after an incisive cross from right-back Ole Blomberg. The goal sent the home crowd into raptures and firmly tilted momentum in the hosts’ favour.
Bodø/Glimt’s relentless energy and precision passing continued to cause problems for the visitors, and in the 69th minute, Saltnes struck again—this time with a moment of pure class. Latching onto a delicate chipped assist from Jens Petter Hauge, Saltnes lofted the ball over Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas, doubling the lead and giving the Norwegians a deserved cushion heading into the second leg.
Saltnes almost sealed a hat-trick in the 83rd minute but was denied by a brave stop from Mandas. The Lazio keeper was again called into action in injury time, this time diving low to keep out a thunderous volley from Odin Bjortuft.
Before kick-off, volunteers and ground staff worked tirelessly to clear heavy overnight snow, ensuring the match could go ahead. Their efforts were not in vain as Bodø/Glimt, playing just their second-ever quarter-final in a major European competition, put on a performance that will live long in the memory.
The last time the Norwegians faced a Rome-based side at this stage of European competition, they were eliminated by Lazio’s rivals Roma in the 2021-22 UEFA Conference League—despite winning the first leg at home. This time, they’ll hope to avoid a repeat when they head to the Stadio Olimpico for the second leg in Rome on Thursday, 17 April at 20:00 BST.
Lazio, sixth in Serie A and winners of their Europa League group, will need to find answers fast if they are to keep their hopes of a first European semi-final appearance since 2003 alive.
