Bodø/Glimt are having a historic UEFA Champions League campaign this season; the last time a Norwegian club advanced to the UCL or European Cup knockout stage was 38 years ago.
They beat Manchester City 3-1, then beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 before facing Inter Milan in the playoff round and went on to beat Inter Milan 3-1 in the 1st leg and 2-1 in the 2nd leg.
The shocker: they haven’t played league football since November 30th, have gone on to beat some giant teams, and are now considered a dark horse in the UEFA Champions League this year.
In this tactical analysis, we will take a look at what tactics Kjetil Knutsen has been cooking up at the club over the last four UCL games, as well as how far they can realistically make it in the competition, given that they are playing Sporting CP in the Round of 16.
Kjetil Knutsen Philosophy
Knutsen believes in his team controlling the game through keeping the ball and playing short, sharp passes, with his full-backs and midfielders constantly connecting to keep play moving.
He prefers a 4-3-3 system with a very clear build-up structure that every player understands and buys into.
He doesn’t rely on one or two star players to win games, but every player playing their role as effectively as possible to form one unit.
Even when his attackers take on defenders, the goal is usually to create space for a teammate rather than do something flashy on their own.
He believes that if it’s 11v11, anyone has a chance to win the game.
Kjetil Knutsen Build-Up Play
Bodø/Glimt’s build-up play is in a classic 4-3-3 shape, but utilising a single pivot while the other two 8s have freedom to roam higher up the pitch.
The backline doesn’t invert; rather, it stretches the pitch, and they like to play with a heavy possession-based philosophy.
Although against tougher teams, they may not find themselves with possession for the majority of the match, but they stick to their build-up structure.
In this build-up structure, the single pivot is the key connector to the centre-backs and the wingers, but the other 8s also play a crucial role.
The other 8s rotate, who will drop in and out of space to drag an opposition player into space.
For example, we see one of the 8s moving inward to join the single pivot, dragging an Inter Milan player with him.
No, with this Inter Milan player, can cover the space in front of the Bodø/Glimt winger, allowing Bodø/Glimt to switch the ball and continue their build-up.
The number eight closest to the ball will drop down to help the single pivot and create a double pivot midfield, allowing the space out wide to be clear.
The number 8 furthest from the ball is tasked with finding that switch play.
Given their quick-pass style, making that switch is easy.
Kjetil Knutsen Final Third Tactics
Bodø/Glimt players aren’t shy to take on opponents in 1v1 dribbles; no matter the scenario, if there’s space in behind that can be exploited, the dribble is on.
Many of their breakthroughs on the attack come from diagonal plays from midfield, as you see here.
Where the player receiving is now looking to push into the space in the final third off the dribble or to make a pass centrally.
This is an example of where there is a diagonal pass to a diagonal pass, but the goal is getting the ball in a central position where the attacker in the final third can take someone on the dribble.
We see it again, the player is on the turn centrally.
This part of the pitch is where Bodø/Glimt make their magic happen.
From here, it’s regular final third football, teammates understanding each other and making those runs in behind, attackers showing off on the dribble, whatever it takes.
But the ball needs to go centrally first.
Kjetil Knutsen Defensive Block
Out of possession, Kjetil Knutsen likes to put his team in a 4-4-2 defensive block, but with an interesting twist.
The first line of two players isn’t in a rush to press and run around at 100%.
They are purely cutting off passing lanes and leaving lots of space between them and the opponent’s build-up, as we see in the image below.
Look at all the space they are putting in between.
They are also not interested in playing a wide 4-4-2; it is very compact and central.
They are leaving two Manchester City players open in width, one on each side of the pitch; the goal is to not allow passing through gaps in the middle.
When they are in a defensive block much closer to the goal, the defensive block is different; it is now a 3-4-3.
Adding more players at the front line allows more legs to roam and block off the first pass; there is less need for four people in the backline in these scenarios.
Once again, the players are very disciplined, very compact, and central.
Kjetil Knutsen Pressing Out Of Possession
When pressing out of possession, they are very aggressive before they can set up their defensive block.
As we saw above, the first goal in the second leg vs Inter Milan resulted from a high press by three players against a single Inter Milan centre-back, which forced a poor, miscalculated pass from Akanji under pressure.
If Bodø/Glimt see you take too many touches, look for a dribble in space or sense any hesitation in your pass, they will be all over it.
Many of Bodø/Glimt’s dangerous chances or even goals directly have been from the press.
As mentioned before, if you make one wrong step, they are all over it, as we see here: five players are on one side of the pitch looking to win the ball out wide.
The Inter player doesn’t have much choice; his best option is a one-touch pass to his teammate in the centre of the five Bodø/Glimt players, who will be pressed right away and lose it.
Bodø/Glimt see this and achieve numerical superiority in the area.
What makes numerical superiority in pressing so dangerous is that if you do win the ball in the press, you have numbers immediately for a counterattack.
It needs to be done very well; it is high risk, high reward.
If the opponent can pass out of that press, you are outnumbered in defence now.
Here it works in Bodø/Glimt’s favour: from the press to attack, they now have four players sprinting forward, and doing this to top clubs like Inter Milan is very impressive.
Conclusion
Sporting have been a top team in the UCL this season, finishing seventh in the league phase which earned them automatic qualification for the Round of 16.
Still, they are not the strongest side Bodø/Glimt could have been drawn with, and I am sure the Norwegian side are feeling good about this matchup.
Sporting are also a very energetic side, matched with Bodø/Glimt’s energy in attack, quick build-up, and pressing.
I believe this will be a high-scoring tie over two legs.
Bodø/Glimt are certainly a dark horse and have the momentum right now to continue their push forward into the next stage of the UCL.
They play a great style of football under Kjetil Knutsen, and they have what it takes to continue this push forward.
