Borussia Dortmund manager Niko Kovac is expecting a tough challenge away to Bodo/Glimt in the UEFA Champions League tomorrow.
The BVB visit the Aspmyra Stadium for matchday two of the competition's new season to renew hostilities just a year on from their first official clash in December 2025.
Bodo/Glimt were one of the biggest surprises of last season, having marched all the way to the Round of 16 after picking up multiple scalps along the way.
It includes a 2-2 draw with Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park, as the Superlaget showed excellent character to fight back into the match twice after falling behind.
But better results came at home, as they beat Manchester City and Inter Milan in a pair of 3-1 wins, whilst also holding Tottenham Hotspur, then reigning Europa League champions, to a 2-2 draw.
Kovac is aware of big teams struggling in Bodo and expects a tough challenge. Speaking to the press ahead of the match, he said:
"There have been some big-name teams here, and many have seen how difficult it is to play here. We know it’s going to be a really intense game for us tomorrow. But we’re feeling confident and believe we have what it takes to win the game. Nothing is easy, though—especially not in the Champions League."
Bodo/Glimt's greatest strength was their offensive vanguard, scoring 22 goals from 14 matches, with Jens Hauge and Kasper Hogh particularly on fire.
Julian Ryerson, who returns for Dortmund after missing last time out and gears up for a trip to his home country, echoed Kovac's sentiments, highlighting their attacking firepower.
"They’re especially dangerous in the final third. They’re a team that’s been playing under the same coach for many years. They’re doing really well, especially at home."
Moreover, the match will be played on artifical turf given the extreme weather conditions in Norway and Dortmund played their last training session on the ground itself to familiarize themselves with it.
Ryerson felt there's some difference in playing on grass to an artificial turf:
"It really is a difference. It’s harder to press; we’ll have to compensate for that. We shouldn’t make a bigger deal out of it than it is, but the difference is definitely there."
Kovac added:
"The lads played on artificial turf in their youth. We still want to impose our style of play. Changing direction is more difficult on a surface like this; we’ll have to adjust everything a bit."
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