Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt at 00:45 on March 18, Champions League Round of 16 second leg

Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt (00:45, March 18). Predicted outcome, expected lineups, expert analysis of the match between Sporting Lisbon and Bodo Glimt in the second leg of the 2025/26 Champions League Round of 16.

Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt

In the first leg in Norway, Sporting disappointed by losing 0-3 to the Scandinavian representative. Goals from Sondre Fet, Ole Didrik Blomberg, and Kasper Høgh helped Bodo Glimt secure a massive advantage ahead of their trip to Lisbon.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese side still has grounds for hope. In European cup history, Sporting have overturned deficits after losing by three goals in the first leg. In the 1963/64 UEFA Cup, they defeated Manchester United 5-0 in the second leg to win 5-4 on aggregate.

The confidence of the "Lisbon Lions" is further boosted by their extremely impressive home record at Jose Alvalade. Sporting have won 17 of their last 18 home matches, including 10 victories by a margin of three or more goals. They also have a favorable history against Norwegian representatives in European cups. In three previous home encounters, Sporting have won all and kept clean sheets.

The postponed match against Tondela allowed Sporting additional rest time before this crucial rematch. However, Bodo Glimt is not an opponent easily subdued. The Norwegian representative is making a significant impact in their first Champions League season. Before defeating Sporting in the first leg, Bodo Glimt drew with Dortmund and defeated Manchester City and Atletico in the qualifying rounds. Subsequently, they continued to surprise by eliminating Inter Milan in the play-off round.

With a three-goal advantage, Bodo Glimt stands before a historic opportunity to become the first Norwegian club to reach the Champions League quarter-finals since Rosenborg BK achieved this in the 1996/97 season. Statistics also favor the Scandinavian side. In five previous instances where they held a three-goal advantage after the first leg in European cups, Bodo Glimt have all progressed.

The Norwegian team's attack is also formidable, having scored at least two goals in 9 of their last 11 Champions League matches. Furthermore, Bodo Glimt has scored two goals per match in their last five away trips, winning four of those.

Squad status for Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt

Sporting Lisbon: Maximiliano Araujo and Pedro Gonçalves return from suspension. Fotis Ioannidis and Ricardo Mangas have knee injuries. Geovany Quenda is recovering from foot surgery.

Bodo Glimt: No significant losses. The visitors are likely to retain the lineup that performed well in recent Champions League matches.

Expected lineups for Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt

Sporting Lisbon (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez

Bodo Glimt (4-3-3): Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Fet; Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge

Sporting Lisbon form

12/03/26: Bodo Glimt 3-0 Sporting Lisbon (Champions League)

08/03/26: Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Braga (Primeira Liga)

02/03/26: Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Porto (Primeira Liga)

26/02/26: Benfica 1-2 Sporting Lisbon (Primeira Liga)

22/02/26: Sporting Lisbon 4-1 Estoril (Primeira Liga)

Form of Bodo Glimt

12/03/26: Bodo Glimt 3-0 Sporting Lisbon (Champions League)

05/03/26: Inter Milan 1-2 Bodo Glimt (Champions League)

26/02/26: Bodo Glimt 1-1 Inter Milan (Champions League)

18/02/26: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Bodo Glimt (Champions League)

12/02/26: Bodo Glimt 2-0 Manchester City (Champions League)

Head-to-head history: Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt

12/03/26: Bodo Glimt 3-0 Sporting Lisbon (Champions League)

Predicted outcome for Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt

Sporting Lisbon will have to push their formation high from the start to seek goals if they want to stage a comeback. The home advantage at Jose Alvalade could help the Portuguese side play more explosively compared to the first leg.

However, Bodo Glimt has proven to be an extremely troublesome opponent with an effective attacking style. Simply scoring away from home would almost seal Sporting's chances of reversing the situation.

Predicted score for Sporting Lisbon vs Bodo Glimt: 3-2 (Bodo Glimt advances with an aggregate score of 5-3)