Viking created football shockwaves in Zagreb on Tuesday by refusing to lose after being 2-0 down. On Wednesday, it was the yellow horde from Bodø that was supposed to show Norwegian football is still on the rise.
There were probably many Dutch who had seen what Bodø/Glimt delivered in the Champions League last season, but when you meet the power of the yellow horde yourself, it still comes as a shock. Kjetil Knutsen and the Glimt players came, watched and won 1-3 in Nijmegen. The Dutch media quickly realized that N.E.C. was totally inferior to the Norwegian club.
After a 0-2 lead at half-time, Voetbal International said: “N.E.C gets a lesson in Champions League football from Bodø/Glimt. The Norwegians are extremely efficient”.
There was also no doubt about who has cracked the away code.
“Why is Bodø/Glimt successful in Europe? Kjetil Knutsen points to the experience this team has built up through such matches. Good to see against N.E.C. Adult, disciplined and effective”.
Dutch AD announced early on: “It will be an unpleasant evening for N.E.C”.
And it was sportingly uncomfortable for the home team.
Five minutes before the end, they still got a very important score to make it 1-3, but for Voetbal International, the situation is clear before the N.E.C. squad travels up to Bodø: “It’s over for N.E.C. Brutal reality in the Champions League.”
We think the same. Bodø/Glimt will never do what they did against Sporting last season, try to “secure” a 3-0 lead after the first leg. When N.E.C go out at Aspmyra, they can expect the same discipline and efficiency from Glimt as in Nijmegen.
