Bodø/Glimt vs Crvena zvezda facts

Bodø/Glimt are looking to reach the UEFA Champions League proper for the first time as they welcome 1991 European champions Crvena zvezda to Norway for the first leg of their play-off tie.

The Norwegian champions are taking part in the competition for only the third time and have made it this far for only the second time; Crvena zvezda, by contrast, featured in the group stage in three of the last six seasons, including 2023/24.

This is the first game between the clubs. The return fixture is in Belgrade on 28 August.

Form guide

Bodø/Glimt

This is Bodø/Glimt's first game against a Serbian club.

Glimt are looking to become the first Norwegian side to reach the Champions League proper since Rosenborg in 2007/08. That was the country's 12th group stage appearance – 11 of them by Rosenborg, the exception Molde in 1999/2000.

This is Bodø/Glimt's third Champions League campaign, and a first since they came through three qualifying rounds before losing to Dinamo Zagreb in the 2022/23 play-offs (1-0 h, 1-4 a aet).

That is the Norwegian club's only previous play-off tie in this competition.

In 2023/24 Kjetil Knutsen's side reached the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage after kicking off in the second qualifying round. After coming second in Group D behind Club Brugge but ahead of Beşiktaş and Lugano, taking ten points from their six games, they were eliminated by Ajax in the knockout round play-offs (2-2 a, 1-2 h aet).

Den Gule Horde began the 2024/25 Champions League in the second qualifying round, beating RFS of Latvia 4-0 at home and 3-1 away, before easing past Poland's Jagiellonia Białystok (1-0 a, 4-1 h) to reach the play-offs.

Glimt have won seven of their last nine home European home matches – including both this season, scoring eight goals – losing the other two.

Bodø/Glimt claimed their third league title – all in the last four years – in 2023, finishing nine points clear at the top of the table.

Crvena zvezda

Record vs Norwegian clubs: W6 D1 L2 F22 A8
Away record vs Norwegian clubs: W3 D1 L1

This is Crvena zvezda's tenth game against a Norwegian club and a first since the 2005/06 UEFA Cup group stage, when they went down 3-1 at Tromsø.

The Serbian club won their first three games in Norway, scoring ten goals, but have recorded a draw and a defeat in their last two visits.

Home and away, 'Red Star' were victorious in their first six games against Norwegian clubs, scoring 21 goals and conceding only four, but are without a win in their last three (D1 L2) and have lost the last two.

The Belgrade side are looking to reach the Champions League proper for the fourth time – all since 2018/19.

Crvena zvezda finished fourth in Group G in 2023/24, behind Manchester City, Leipzig and Young Boys. They lost five of their six games, the exception a 2-2 home draw against the Swiss side on Matchday 2.

This is the Serbian club's first European tie of 2024/25.

This is the Red and Whites' fourth Champions League play-off. They beat Salzburg to earn their debut in 2018/19 (0-0 h, 2-2 a) and Young Boys the following season (2-2 a, 1-1 h), both on away goals, but lost to Maccabi Haifa in 2022/23 (2-3 a, 2-2 h).

European champions in 1991, Crvena zvezda claimed their seventh successive Serbian league title – and 35th championship overall – in 2023/24, also winning the Serbian Cup for the fourth season in a row.

Crvena zvezda have lost their last seven away European games. A 2-0 victory at Armenian side Pyunik in the 2022/23 Champions League third qualifying round is the only one of their last nine away matches in Europe they have not lost.

Links and trivia

Crvena zvezda goalkeeper Marko Ilić made 14 league appearances on loan at Norwegian club Sarpsborg from Colorado Rapids between March and July this year, including a 2-1 home defeat by Bodø/Glimt on 28 June.