Jagiellonia Bialystok will be bidding to make home advantage count when they welcome Bodo/Glimt to Bialystok Stadium on Wednesday for the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round fixture.
The hosts comfortably beat Panevezys in the second qualifying round, while Bodo/Glimt also breezed past Rigas Futbola Skola to secure their spot in this round of the 2024-25 Champions League.
Match preview
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Jagiellonia Bialystok were crowned Ekstraklasa champions for the first time in their history in 2023-24, which saw them secure a spot in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
Jaga had no problems in navigating their way into the third qualifying round, as they beat Panevezys 4-0 away and 3-1 at home in order to record a 7-1 aggregate victory and breeze into this stage of the competition.
It would be some story if Adrian Siemieniec's side managed to make the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in their history, and they have started this season in excellent fashion.
Indeed, in addition to the two successes in the Champions League, Jaga have won their opening three games of their new Polish campaign to sit at the top of the table on nine points.
Siemieniec's side do not have another league match until August 17, so they can fully concentrate on this two-legged affair with Bodo/Glimt, and the hosts will certainly be looking to claim a first-leg advantage on Wednesday.
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Bodo/Glimt are far more experienced than their opponents when it comes to European action, and the team actually competed in last season's Europa Conference League, losing in the knockout round playoffs to Ajax.
Kjetil Knutsen's side are three-time Norwegian champions, including last season, with their title success allowing them to secure a spot in the second qualifying round of the 2024-25 Champions League.
Bodo/Glimt, like their opponents in this tie, were comfortable in the second qualifying round, beating Rigas 4-0 at home and 3-1 away to also run out 7-1 aggregate winners.
Superlaget have never played in the group stage of the Champions League, but they made it to the playoff round in 2022-23, losing to Dinamo Zagreb, before competing in the group stage of the Europa League.
In total, Bodo/Glimt have played 12 qualification matches in the Champions League, boasting a record of six wins, one draw and five defeats, and they are actually 18 matches into their domestic season, sitting top of the Eliteserien table on 40 points.
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Team News
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Jagiellonia Bialystok are widely expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation on Wednesday, with Jesus Imaz and Afimico Pululu set to operate in the final third of the field.
Imaz has scored four times in five appearances this season, while Pululu has three in five outings, and the pair will look to carry the attacking threat for the hosts in this contest.
Kristoffer Hansen is another key player for Jaga, and the 29-year-old is set to operate in a wide area, while Nene is again expected to feature in central midfield.
As for Bodo/Glimt, the Norwegian outfit will enter the match off the back of a 4-2 success over Haugesund, and it will be a similar side that starts on Wednesday, although Oscar Kapskarmo could earn a recall in the final third of the field.
The visitors currently have a number of injury problems, with Nino Zugelj, Brice Wembangomo, Daniel Bassi, Omar Elabdellaoui, Gaute Vetti, Runar Espejord and Syver Skeide on the sidelines.
Patrick Berg has been in excellent goalscoring form from a deep midfield position this season, finding the back of the net on 10 occasions, and he will again be in the side on Wednesday night.
Jagiellonia Bialystok possible starting lineup:
Abramowicz; Sacek, Dieguez, Skrzypczak, Moutinho; Marczuk, Romanczuk, Nene, Hansen; Imaz, Pululu
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Sjovold, Moe, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Saltnes, Berg, Evjen; Hauge, Kapskarmo, Mikkelsen
We say: Jagiellonia Bialystok 1-1 Bodo/Glimt
Both sides were so impressive in the second qualifying round, and we are expecting a tight contest over the two legs. The home side have been excellent in the early stages of their new campaign, so we are finding it difficult to back them to lose, but Bodo/Glimt should be good enough for a draw on Wednesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
