Opponent.
FK Bodø/Glimt was founded in 1916. The club name "Glimt" means lightning bolt. The club achieved its first success in 1975 when it was able to win the Norwegian Cup as a second division club. In 1977 after first promotion to the highest level, it actually finished second behind Lillestrøm. The second (and last) cup success followed in 1993. The last promotion to the Eliteserien in 2017 heralded a boom. The club became champions in both 2020 and 2021 and vice champions in 2019 and 2022. Successes also followed in Europe including in a 6-1 win against AS Roma in the group stage and eliminating Celtic and AZ on their way to the quarterfinals where later winner AS Roma was too strong this time. They were also able to winter in Europe last season.
Glimt plays its home matches at Aspmyra Stadium. The stadium was built in 1966 and was renovated in 1980 and 2008. It currently seats 8,270 supporters. The stadium has an artificial turf field. Aspmyra Stadium once hosted the Norwegian national team.
Two current Club players played important roles at the club:
- Hugo Vetlesen came over from Stabæk Fotball in October 2020 and joined Glimt just in time to celebrate the first title. The second title followed in 2021, while 2022 was his most decisive year with 16 goals and 12 assists. That year, he was voted player of the year in the Eliteserien.
- In March 2018, Philip Zinckernagel came over from Denmark's SönderjyskE. The Danish midfielder was able to help Glimt to the vice-championship in his second season (2019) with 19 goals and 24 assists. He also became Eliteserien Player Of the Year there, which earned him a transfer to Premier League club Watford.
Other players who played for both Club and Glimt include Norwegians Bengt Sæternes (Eliteserien striker of the year in 2002 at Glimt) and Tom Høgli.
This season FK Bodø/Glimt is embroiled in an exciting title battle. With 7 playing days to go, the club is at the top with 1 point ahead of Viking FK and 3 ahead of Tromsø IL. Other Norwegian clubs Club Brugge once played against are only lower down the rankings: Brann (4th), Lillestrøm (6th), Rosenborg (9th) and Vålerenga (11th).
On the opening day of play in the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, both Club Brugge and Bodø/Glimt played a draw.
Club took on Turkish Besiktas JK at home. Hans Vanaken was able to open the score on a pass from Andreas Skov Olsen, but the Turks were still able to equalize through Cenk Tosun. (1-1)
Glimt went to visit FC Lugano in Switzerland. In a balanced match, the home team had the best chance when a corner kick was spectacularly turned off the line by striker Moumbagna. In the closing stages, Grønbæk shot a unique chance at the post for the visitors. The match in a rainy Zurich ended in a scoreless draw.
The referee
Czech Ondřej Berka was designated ref for this game. He is assisted by his compatriots Ivo Nádvorník and Matěj Vlček (linesmen) and Dominik Starý (fourth official).
It is the 7th time Club has had a Czech ref in Europe. Berka is a 35-year-old ref from Prague, who has been whistling international matches since 2021 and at the highest level domestically since 2016.
The VAR is José Luis Munuera Montero (Esp), assisted by Iñigo Prieto López de Ceraín. Croatian Igor Pristovnik is the UEFA referee observer. The UEFA delegate is Lennart Vestervall (Swe).
