Linfield Belfast vs FK Bodo/Glimt Preview 19/07/2022

Linfield Belfast vs FK Bodo/Glimt – 19/07/2022

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1986

Northern Ireland Premier League champions Linfield pulled off a dramatic win in the Champions League first qualifying round versus The New Saints. Now, Linfield face Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the second qualifying round.

Linfield trailed The New Saints 1-0 until Jamie Mulgrew scored an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage-time in the second half of the second leg. Ethan Devine scored the winner in extra-time.

Bodo/Glimt claimed a 3-0 win against KÍ Klaksvík in the first leg. KÍ Klaksvík came back in the second match winning 3-1. Bodo/Glimt eked through to the second qualifying round and now face Linfield.

The Norwegians are the favourites to pick up the win against Linfield and to go into the second leg with an advantage. The Lightning are in good form and coming off of an Eliteserien 2-0 away win against Ham-Kam.

Linfield are in preseason and won’t start the Northern Ireland Premier League season until mid-August. David Healy’s team is the underdog heading into the match but will have the home crowd behind them on Tuesday.

Bodo/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen will be without defender Brede Moe due to a groin strain. He is likely to miss both legs of the series.

Midfielder Sondre Brunstad Fet has a meniscus injury and will miss the remainder of the campaign. Midfielder Morten Konradsen is carrying an injury and is a doubt to make the Bodo/Glimt squad at Linfield.

Bodo/Glimt striker Victor Boniface scored all four goals against KÍ Klaksvík in the Champions League first qualifying round. He bagged a hat-trick in the first leg and then a goal from the penalty spot in the second leg.

Mulgrew scored the equaliser for Linfield in the second leg against The New Saints. He came off the bench to score the goal. Mulgrew will be in line to start the match versus Bodo/Glimt.

Bodo/Glimt is a major step up for Linfield in competition. The Lightning reached the Europa Conference League semifinals last season, losing to Roma in the two-legged series.

Bodo/Glimt had previously won in the group stage against Roma.

The Norwegian squad is very similar to the one that reached the semifinals of the Europa Conference League last season.

Knutsen will be confident that Bodo/Glimt can get a win on the road versus Linfield away this week in the first leg of the second qualifying round.

Boniface is in excellent form in the Champions League and could get onto the scoresheet once more.

Forebet predicts an intense encounter that will end in low-scoring draw with both teams finding the back of the net.