"Maybe the match and its dynamics will be different at our home."

Tottenham won 3-1 against Bodø/Glimt (Norway) in the first leg of the semifinals of the 2024-2025 UEFA Europa League (UEL) held on the 2nd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England (Korea time).

With this victory, Tottenham achieved a successful goal advantage ahead of the away second leg on the 9th. Bodø/Glimt has not lost a single home match in this season's UEL. In addition to Norway's cold climate, the characteristic of artificial turf is proving to be quite an important factor.

In fact, this semifinal is an important match for both Bodø/Glimt, known as the 'miraculous team,' and Tottenham, which holds 'the last hope of the season.' Bodø/Glimt is the first Norwegian team to reach the semifinals in the history of men's European club competitions. They rose to prominence by beating Lazio in the quarterfinals via a penalty shootout.

Tottenham's manager, Ange Postecoglou, does not consider their journey to be a mere coincidence. He noted, "It is no surprise that they have come this far. They showed tremendous performance against my Celtic team two years ago." In fact, during the UEFA Conference League playoffs in 2022, Bodø/Glimt decisively defeated Postecoglou's Celtic 5-1 on aggregate.

Moreover, Tottenham desperately needs the UEL trophy this season. Since winning the League Cup (now known as the Carabao Cup) in the 2007-2008 season, they have not experienced success in any official competition. With a record 19 losses in this season’s league, they are genuinely all-in for the UEL and are aiming for victory.

Meanwhile, star player Son Heung-min was unable to participate in this match. After missing the final training the previous day, it was a continuation of his previous absence. Dominic Solanke, Brennan Johnson, and Richarlison formed the attacking line. James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Yves Bissouma stood in midfield. The defense was constructed by Destiny Udoji, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro. The starting goalkeeper was Guglielmo Vicario.

With Son Heung-min absent, Tottenham scored their opening goal when Richarlison, who started as a left winger, headed a cross from the right side, setting up Johnson, who finished with a header.

Against a weaker opponent, Tottenham continued their one-sided assault. In the 34th minute of the first half, Maddison momentarily penetrated behind the defense and, in line with the situation, received a pass from Porro and attempted a turning shot, resulting in another goal.

The first half concluded with Tottenham leading 2-0. In the 16th minute of the second half, Romero was fouled, earning a penalty kick, which Solanke converted to extend the lead to 3-0.

However, the positive momentum was disrupted once again due to injuries. In the 19th minute of the second half, Maddison fell without colliding with an opponent. He sat down on the pitch and could not get back up, ultimately being substituted for Dejan Kulusevski. Additionally, Solanke also felt discomfort and was substituted for Wilson Odobert.

Following the successive substitutions, Tottenham's concentration wavered. Ultimately, Bodø/Glimt's Ulrik Saltnes broke through two Tottenham defenders and fired a shot that resulted in a consolation goal. As a result, Tottenham will head into the away match against Bodø/Glimt with an uneasy lead.

Bodø/Glimt's coach Kjetil Knutsen expressed disappointment over the away defeat but emphasized that the late consolation goal provided hope. He said, "We conceded too easily." He added, "However, the consolation goal brought some hope. At the moment they conceded, Tottenham looked very disappointed and showed signs of collapse."

He continued, "I believe that Bodø/Glimt received a lot of energy and motivation from that goal thanks to the consolation goal. We must carry that momentum forward. Playing at home with that momentum is a completely different situation. There is still a chance. We may not be the favorites for the title, but we will challenge and fight."

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