Lazio – Bodoe/Glimt

The visitors from Norway will get the result they need to reach the semi-finals

The most unpredictable events of the Europa League quarter-final stage took place in the Norwegian city of Budø. In a stadium with a capacity of only eight thousand fans, the local club took a confident step into the semi-final stage. And there can be no questions about the fairness of the final victory of Budø/Glimt. Already in the first half the Norwegians seized territorial advantage and hit twice as many shots both towards and into the opponent's goal. Instead of the expected improvement in the second half Lazio failed even more in the second half. In the 47th and 69th minutes of the game, Ulrik Saltnes, who has played his entire career for Budo/Glimt, scored crucial goals for the Romans, which gave his team a 2-0 victory. The final scoreline showed the Norwegians with a 6-1 advantage in all key indicators, including shots on goal. Bookmakers have identified the hosts as favourites for the return leg, offering odds of 1.45 on their victory. Lazio rather unexpectedly failed in Norway. The Roman club was one of the key favourites for the Europa League on the eve of the quarter-final stage. Recall that it was Marco Baroni's team that won the general stage of the second European tournament by status. The Romans scored the same number of points with Athletic Bilbao, failing to win only two of the eight games. In addition, the Blues are in sixth place in Serie A, which does not guarantee them participation in the coveted Champions League next season. There is no doubt that Lazio will be motivated for the return leg against the Norwegians, but on Sunday night they will play a Rome derby, which is never easy either physically or psychologically. Budo/Glimt are taking part in the third round of the playoffs. After finishing ninth in the overall stage, the Norwegian team battled their way past Twente and Olympiacos. At the end of March, Budø/Glimt started the regular season as champions. With two consecutive wins, the club immediately topped the standings with a group of several competitors. Budø/Glimt will probably lose in Rome, but character and solid play will allow the Norwegians to reach the semi-finals.