Know your enemy: Bodø/Glimt, the Norwegian force that knocked out Lazio

Bodø/Glimt arrive in Naples as the dominant force of northern Norway: four Norwegian league titles in the last five seasons (2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024), plus three Norwegian Cups and nine Northern Norway Cups.

In 2025 they became the first Norwegian side in history to reach the semi-finals of a UEFA club competition, knocking out Lazio along the way after the Italian side let a lead slip and missed three decisive penalties.

The coach and the system

Kjetil Knutsen is the head coach who has built the club's recent European identity. In their last recorded Champions League outing, against Borussia Dortmund, Bodø/Glimt lined up in a 4-3-3: Haikin in goal, a back line of Sjøvold, Gundersen, Aleesami and Bjørkan, a midfield three of Berg, Auklend and Fet, and an attacking trio of Blomberg, Helmersen and Hauge. It is the same shape they have used in their most recent European matches.

The dangers

Up front, the Blomberg-Helmersen-Hauge trio is the unit Bodø/Glimt send chasing goals in Europe: three forwards built to move together and attack space behind the defence. Berg runs midfield, with Auklend and Fet completing the line. On the flanks, Sjøvold and Bjørkan are full-backs who push on — a side that plays its continental matches with attacking players in every area of the pitch, from goalkeeper Haikin through to the front three.

The point Napoli might study most closely is what Bodø/Glimt showed on their opening night of this Champions League: a heavy 5-0 defeat away to Bayern Munich. A side used to dominating in Norway took one of the heaviest losses of its European run when it stepped up against one of the continent's big clubs. It is the same kind of occasion — a huge Italian away trip for a club whose fanbase lives football like few others — that awaits them at the Maradona.

Bodø/Glimt arrive in Naples well aware of what is coming: the club has told its own supporters not to wear its colours around the city, explaining that here "football is much more than just a sport". Even before kick-off, they know the Maradona on Tuesday will be a totally hostile environment. We have always known it ourselves — now we want to see it translated into a performance from a team that does not settle for less, against an opponent that has already shown it struggles against Europe's biggest sides.