Champions League: One More Push for Atleti

Atletico Madrid vs Bodo/Glimt

With eight Round of 16 places up for grabs this week there is a rush for the finish line as the Champions League group stage comes to a close, and Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid have their eyes on one of those eight places.    

Atleti are in 12^th place currently, on 13 points and in a group of eight teams all pushing the door to the knockout phase; a group which includes 2025 champions Paris Saint-Germain, as well as Barcelona and Manchester City. And Los Rojiblancos have a peach of a last game, at home to Norwegian giant killers Bodo Glimt.   

The conquerors of Manchester City have the slightest chance to make a play-off place, in 28^th position in the table, on six points and two adrift from an un-seeded play-off spot. Manager Kjetil Knutsen will be relishing his next challenge, Champions League: Atletico Madrid vs Bodo Glimt. He has been linked with bigger jobs for much of his eight year reign as Bodo boss, but Knutsen has led his team to some great achievements in recent years and has shown no sign of looking elsewhere.   

Now he aims to spring another surprise and give Atleti an unexpected headache. But Knutsen’s opposite number, Simeone, is nothing if not determined and his team will be ready.

 

Talking Points

Alvarez distraction for Atleti

Over at the Santiago Bernabeu it has been a tumultuous start to 2026 with the departure of Xabi Alonso grabbing the headlines, while Atletico have been ticking along quietly, picking up 13 points from the last five league games and giving themselves a ten point advantage over fifth place. But Simeone does have an issue developing around star striker Julian Alvarez, who has been on a dry run while rumours of a move away from Madrid are gathering pace.  

Despite not scoring in the league since early November, Alvarez is still Atleti’s joint top scorer on seven goals, alongside Alexander Sorloth, and the two look certain to line up against Bodo Glimt. But while he will be doing the business on the pitch, the 25 year old Alvarez will be the subject of discussion in the Atleti boardroom as Premier League leaders Arsenal have been linked with a move for the Argentine star. While any transfer is likely to be in the summer and Atleti will recoup around £80m for the player, such uncertainty is not helpful as Alvarez looks to get back on the scoring trail.

But with flying winger Alex Baena also expected to start Alvarez and Sorloth will get plenty of service as they aim to sweep the brave Norwegians aside.     

 

Is Bodo’s new dream impossible?

The Norwegian warriors were in fantasyland last week when they grabbed all the headlines with a sensational 3-1 victory over the 2023 Champions League winners, and that on the back of a draw with Borussia Dortmund and, if they can pull off another giant-killing on Wednesday, their adventure might just continue. 

Knutsen’s team has European pedigree, as the first Norwegian club to reach the last four of a UEFA competition, making the semi-finals of the 2024/25 Europa League; and last season they won their fourth domestic title in a row.

So Bodo Glimt are no pushover as the Sky Blues found out to their cost.  

In front of a capacity 8,000 crowd the hosts scored two goals in three first half minutes, courtesy of Danish striker Kasper Hogh. When Petter Hauge curled in a brilliant third the Manchester billionaires were on the rack, and they could only muster a consolation through Rayan Cherki. Now Pep Guardiola’s side have work to do to earn automatic qualification.

Meanwhile Bodo are dreaming of wrecking another mega club’s week.       

 

History

In Bodo Glimt’s first ever Champions League campaign, this is the first meeting between the Spanish giants and the Norwegian minnows and, while we have no historic Atletico Madrid vs Bodo Glimt results to help us, recent form isn’t much use either as the Norwegian League finished almost two months ago.

Los Rojiblancos have won three, drawn two and lost one over the past six games in which time Bodo have enjoyed a nice rest, as well as drawing with Dortmund and beating Manchester City.

But this, if they can pull off a result, may well be Knutsen’s biggest achievement yet, Los Rojiblancos are brilliant at home, taking 31 points from 11 league games on home turf.        

 

Betting Tip

The pre-match Atletico Madrid vs Bodo Glimt betting odds make Los Rojiblancos the hot favourites at SBOTOP odds of 1.25 and there is no surprise there. The Draw is at 7.00 and Bodo at 9.00 with the Double Chance at 2.75.

But that is not for me and I’m going for a goal rush.

   

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