🔊 Can Sturm Graz manage to steer the game away from their goal in the second leg against Bodø/Glimt? The first leg of the Champions League qualification playoff was dominated by the Norwegians, ending in a predictable rout. This match marked the beginning of the current European campaign for both clubs, but it seemed that Sturm Graz hadn't yet found their optimal form. Everything suggests that the Scandinavians, who sensationally reached the Europa League semifinals last season, have now matured enough for the main European competition. Can they secure a historic entry into the Champions League with the same confidence? Let's delve into our prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 The first head-to-head clash between the teams took place on August 20 during the Champions League qualification playoffs. Bodo/Glimt's energetic start set the tone in the first half, and the second half only reinforced the dominance of the Norwegian powerhouse. The final score was 5-0.

Sturm Graz Team Overview

⚫ Despite the numbers on the scoreboard, the match kicked off with a dangerous moment for Sturm during their counterattack: forward William Bøving capitalized on a defensive error by Bodø/Glimt, driving the ball into the penalty area and striking it at the goalkeeper from a tight angle. After conceding two goals in quick succession from the Norwegians, the visitors had opportunities to reduce the deficit. Midfielder Tomi Horvat smashed the crossbar following another Austrian counter. In the second half, Jürgen Säumel's side conceded even more possession to their opponents, yet failed to orchestrate any significant quick attacks like those seen in the first half.

⚪️ In Sturm's attacking lineup, the partnership of William Bøving and Otar Kiteishvili stands out. In the previous Bundesliga season, they combined for 23 goals. This season has started strongly for them as well: the Georgian playmaker has netted 4 goals in 3 matches, while the Danish forward has provided three assists—two of which were to Kiteishvili. The standout performer for the Austrians was Tim Oermann, on loan from Bayer, who, despite the team conceding five unanswered goals, earned the highest rating among Sturm's players.

Bodo/Glimt Team Overview

🟡 Since 2018, Kjetil Knutsen has been at the helm for the Norwegians, and he's on the brink of leading Bodø to their first-ever Champions League appearance after last season's Europa League semi-final run. His squad is showing serious intent, as evidenced by their dominant performance against the Austrian champions. Fate seems to favor the team: with just 1.13 xG in the first half of their home match, they managed to score three times. Everything seemed to go in, from open-play goals to set pieces (the second goal came from a corner). The standout performer of the first half and the entire match was Jens Hauge—the winger provided two assists and earned the Man of the Match award. In the second half, the hosts' dominance grew even more—they completely controlled possession (62% to 38%) and converted their pressure into two additional goals, finishing with an emphatic 5-0 victory.

⚫ In Bodø/Glimt's lineup, 24-year-old forward Kasper Højer is particularly noteworthy—he has scored 16 times in 19 matches in the current Norwegian Eliteserien season. The Danish striker has been the club's top scorer for two consecutive years and made a name for himself on the international stage during last season's Europa League campaign. Also worth mentioning is Bodø's Russian number one, Nikita Khaykin. The goalkeeper has been with the club for seven years and is on track to break the clean sheet record set in 2021 (13 clean sheets in 29 matches)—Khaykin currently has 10 in 19 games this season.

Latest news

Sturm Graz

❌ During the preseason, the club's summer signing, 19-year-old forward Axel Kayombo, has been sidelined with an ankle injury. He joins defender Alexander Borkovich in the treatment room, who missed almost all of last season due to a torn cruciate ligament and is still far from recovery.

Bodo/Glimt

❌ During the 2025 Eliteserien, forward Ole Blumberg and a pair of defenders, Jostein Gundersen and Brede Moe, have been sidelined. Haitam Aleesami and Isak Maata did not finish the match against Sturm, and the extent of their injuries, as well as their participation in the return leg, remains uncertain.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

⚽️ Goal Prediction

There's an intriguing statistic concerning the second halves for these two teams: the Austrians have conceded in four consecutive home matches, while Bodo have consistently found the net in the same number of away games. We believe that the status of being the visitors won't faze the Norwegians, and they are likely to score. The match might see Kjetil Knutsen's side start cautiously, but if they concede, they are bound to respond with a goal of their own. Our pick: Bodo/Glimt to score in the second half.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Sturm excel on counterattacks, especially against teams of similar or higher caliber. Their average number of corners over the last 10 Bundesliga matches is just 3.9. In the same span, regardless of the opponent's strength or match location, the Norwegians have never lost on individual corner totals. We anticipate that the hosts' inability to effectively organize positional attacks will lead to another corner victory for Bodo/Glimt.

Bookmakers have little faith in the hosts following their complete collapse in the first leg. Just last season, it seemed the opponents were on different levels. Bodø/Glimt were competing in the Europa League, while Sturm were in the Champions League. However, the Norwegian side's impressive performance in the playoffs of Europe's second-tier competition has carried over into the current season. In fact, their season barely paused due to the spring-autumn system in the Eliteserien. As a result, the visitors are in fantastic form and appear poised for a historic entry into the Champions League. The return leg in Austria risks becoming a mere formality, and an unmotivated Sturm are unlikely to significantly alter the overall picture of this matchup. We anticipate a routine 1-1 draw from the clubs, so our editorial team believes a bet on Bodø/Glimt not to lose is the most fitting for these circumstances.