No excuses

Season 2024-25

Quarter Final, Europa League, First Leg

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Previous Match Next

Bodø, Aspmyra Stadion

Bodø Glimt-Lazio 2-0

Lazio outplayed in tactics, quality and attitude. The weather and pitch conditions cannot be an excuse.

Bodø Glimt official photo

On the eve of the game it had snowed heavily in Bodø and it was very, very, cold. As everybody knew, the pitch was artificial grass, hence a lot faster than what the players are used to. But the Norwegians totally dominated Lazio. They were better in every part of the field, they outsmarted the Lazio midfield, showed considerable footballing skills and the Biancocelesti gradually disappeared from the game. Bodø Glimt could have scored at least another 3-4 goals and if it were not for goalkeeper Christos Mandas, Lazio would have already been out of the competition.

Totally incomprehensible not to play as they had done against Atalanta with a three man midfield. Matías Vecino was disastrous and Matteo Guendouzi continued to press high and hence the home side with a couple of passes were immediately in front of Lazio’s penalty area. In the first half Bodø Glimt had a few chances to score but they missed some easy goals and Mandas also managed one great save. In the second half they did exactly what they wanted as most of the Biancocelesti, with the exception of the Greek keeper, just stood and watched. They scored two, missed another couple of easy chances and Mandas was miraculous on another two opportunities. All Lazio managed to muster was an Adam Marusic header in the first half, a Vecino shot over the crossbar in the second and a Loum Tchaouna attempt which was just slightly too high.

But there is a return match at the Olimpico still to play. If Lazio play like they did in Norway there is no chance to reach the semifinals. A radical change in attitude will be needed.

Lazio in their European history  have never come back from a 2-0 deficit in the first leg. Time to set the record straight.

Who played for Bodø Glimt

Haikin, Sjøvold, Gundersen, Bjortuft, Bjørkan, Evjen, Berg, Saltnes (86' Brunstad Fet), Blomberg (86' Maatta), Høgh (80' Helmersen), Hauge

Substitutes: Lund, Brondbo, Nielsen, Moe, Sorli, Hansen

Manager: Knutsen

Who played for Lazio

Mandas, Hysaj (46' Lazzari), Gila, Romagnoli, Marusic, Vecino, Guendouzi, Isaksen (80' Tchaouna), Pedro (63' Castellanos), Zaccagni (80' Noslin) Dia (46' Dele-Bashiru)

Substitutes: Provedel, Furlanetto, Gigot

Manager: Baroni

Referee: Oliver (UK)

Goals: 46' Saltnes, 70' Saltnes

Bookings: Zaccagni, Castellanos, Romagnoli