Football betting tips: Europa League
2.5pts Both teams to score at 4/5 (General)
BuildABet @ 7/1
- Bodo/Glimt +1 handicap
- Both teams to score
- Dejan Kulusevski 2+ fouls
It is hard to avoid being dramatic when talking about Tottenham but their season really does hinge on the Europa League.
That said, European silverware probably won’t salvage Ange Postecoglou’s job.
Upon reflection, his tenure probably peaked too early.
Spurs topped the Premier League table after 10 games last season and were genuinely in some title conversations.
Excluding that stint, Spurs record reads W23 D8 L31 domestically and this term they have been nothing short of atrocious.
Fun for the neutral, but exhausting for Tottenham fans.
Everyone is well aware of Spurs' shortcomings. Although they are a joy to watch in the fleeting moments it clicks, their one dimensional approach is picked apart too often.
And yet, they are three games away from Champions League football next season. Madness.
Bodo/Glimt stand in their way of reaching a European final.
A fascinating club from a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle with a population just under 43,000 who play at an 8,000 seater stadium with an artificial pitch.
Underestimate them at your peril.
They have already beaten Porto, Besiktas, Olympiakos and Lazio on home soil in this competition and have experience getting one over Postecoglou.
Bodo/Glimt beat Postecoglou’s Celtic 5-1 on aggregate in the Europe Conference play-off tie in the 2021/22 season.
At the prices available, I cannot help but feel they have been underestimated on Thursday.
What are the best bets?
Although the 9/1 for Bodo/Glimt to win is really tempting, backing BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE looks the more sensible play.
Spurs have only kept clean sheets in 12 of their 53 games in all competitions this season.
One came at National League side Tamworth in the FA Cup and another against 10 men at Old Trafford.
Admittedly, a quarter of their clean sheets have come in this competition (against Qarabag FK, Elfsborg, AZ Alkmaar and Eintracht Frankfurt) but at the prices available, siding with both teams to net makes sufficient appeal on Thursday.
At home, Spurs have conceded to Southampton, AZ Alkmaar and Leicester since the turn of the year and all three went off at similar prices to their next opponents.
Even with some key suspensions, Bodo/Glimt aren’t going to change the way they play so expect another front-footed, fearless approach. It is why they have only failed to net in one of their 14 European games this season.
Team news
Postecoglou made eight changes in the defeat at Anfield on Sunday.
Pedro Porro, Christian Romero and Micky van de Ven were rested and are all expected to return in defence.
Rodrigo Bentancur should slot back in at the base of a middle three, alongside James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall.
Dejan Kulusevski should also return to the front three at the expense of Brennan Johnson.
Heung-min Son remains a doubt.
The visitors are without suspended trio Patrick Berg, Hakon Evjen and Andreas Helmersen. The former two have started all 14 of their side's games in this competition this term.
Odin Bjortuft is a doubt after he was forced off with an injury in their win over KFUM on Sunday.
Predicted line-ups
Tottenham: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Tel
Bodo/Glimt: Haikin; Sjovold, Nielsen, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Fet, Auklend, Saltnes; Blomberg, Hauge, Hogh
Odds correct at 1200 BST (30/04/25)
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