Champions League
2026-08-19 - NEC Nijmegen vs Bodo-Glimt
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Play Off Round First Leg
Wednesday 19th August 2026 - Kick Off 8pm
NEC Nijmegen
In years gone past, a team coming out of the Netherlands will always feel like big favourites to win one of these Qualifying Round ties. However, NEC Nijmegen are in an underdog role with limited experience of playing in European Football, never mind the Champions League, and they are going to need to dig in and find another level than the one that took them past Olympiacos in the Third Qualifying Round.
While it was a competitive tie that was won 2-1 on aggregate after Extra Time in the Second Leg, NEC Nijmegen will be very pleased with the level of performance they put together. They last competed in any European competition in the 2008/09 season and NEC Nijmegen should take a lot of confidence from the victory against Olympiacos considering the experience of the Greek club.
NEC Nijmegen crushed Willem II 1-4 this past weekend to earn the first victory of the season in normal time in all competitions. The fact that the team needed Extra Time to get the better of Olympiacos does mean NEC Nijmegen have only won 1 of the last 6 home games in all competitions going back to the end of last season.
Bodo/Glimt
One of the best ties in the Third Qualifying Round saw Bodo/Glimt eventually do enough to progress past Union Saint Gilloise and keep alive dreams of returning to the Group Stage of the Champions League. After an impressive run last season, Bodo/Glimt will not want to slip back into the Europa League and they are considered favourites to win this Play Off Round tie.
Nothing will come easy for Bodo/Glimt, but they do benefit from having a lot of time to prepare for both Legs of this tie and that can be a real difference maker for any club. The side have only lost 1 of the last 5 away European games played after drawing 3-3 at Union Saint Gilloise in the Third Qualifying Round First Leg, but that run is more impressive when you consider Bodo/Glimt have faced the likes of Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund in that time.
Bodo/Glimt are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions ahead of this fixture and they have won 9 of those games in all normal time. The side are also unbeaten in 8 away games in all competitions since losing at Norwegian title rivals Viking.
Head to Head
This is the first competitive meeting between these clubs.
Prediction
With the Second Leg being back at home, Bodo/Glimt will certainly feel very good about their chances of progressing into the League Phase of the top UEFA competition for another crack at the top European clubs. They showed tremendous character to continue to nose in front of Union Saint Gilloise in the Third Qualifying Round and eventually prevailing in Extra Time even after conceding late in normal time of the Second Leg.
Any kind of positive result in the First Leg will make Bodo/Glimt huge favourites to move past NEC Nijmegen, but they have to respect the Dutch opponents.
NEC Nijmegen earned an important win in the League after the victory over Olympiacos in the Third Qualifying Round and that will have given them plenty of belief.
Home advantage is likely going to be a key in both Legs and NEC Nijmegen will be hoping to show a bit more composure in the final third. They will have been encouraged by the quality of chances Union Saint Gilloise were able to create against Bodo/Glimt, although the latter are very dangerous on the counter attack.
That is something NEC Nijmegen will have to be aware of, but they have the capabilities of edging in front in the tie if they play at a similar level as the last Round and a draw no bet approach in backing the home team looks the way to go.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
NEC Nijmegen 2-1 Bodo/Glimt
