Why Bodo/Glimt play on plastic pitch with Tottenham’s Europa League semi-final clash held above Arctic Circle ...Middle East

Tottenham have reason to be wary of their Europa League semi-final second leg against Bodo/Glimt, despite their two-goal advantage.

Spurs have travelled to Norway with a 3-1 lead from last week, but their rivals boast an outstanding record on home territory.

Usually, the phrase in football involved would be ‘soil’, but, famously, Bodo/Glimt play on an artificial surface.

And it is a key factor behind Kjetil Knutsen’s side winning 30 of their 36 games in continental competition at the Aspmyra Stadion.

Bodo, who are on a five-game winning European home run, have won 28 of their last 34 home games in all European competitions.

It has become an icy graveyard for visitors, which includes Ange Postecoglou on his miserable last trip to Bodo with Celtic.

Tottenham themselves are also no stranger to synthetic surfaces this season, having struggled away at non-League Tamworth.

The Lilywhites needed extra-time to claim victory on the 3G pitch, eventually winning their FA Cup third-round tie 3-0 in January.

Why do Bodo play on a plastic pitch?

The Aspymyra Stadion is located above the Arctic Circle, which led to the 3.1 million kroner (£225k) installation of an artificial pitch in 2006.

Club chiefs determined that maintaining a grass field to elite standards in the brutal weather conditions would prove too difficult.

Hours before Bodo’s 2-0 quarter-final win over Lazio, the pitch was buried in snow, but adapted under-soil heating saw the tie go ahead.

The 8,270-seater venue is also on the coast, which means Spurs could also be subject to swirling winds of 20-25 mph.

Bodo weather during Europa League home matches

“There’s no doubt it is an advantage for us,” reveals Bodo/Glimt defender Odin Bjortuft, who missed the first leg in north London through injury.

“But at the same time, it’s what you’re used to. We train on this pitch every day, the same with the team we meet, they train on grass pitches every day.

“They have an advantage on us, and we have an advantage on them. I think it’s evened out.

“But of course, playing here at home is a big advantage for us because I don’t think a lot of teams are prepared for what’s coming.

“We have managed to do this in a successful way. The ball goes really fast here, and that’s a key object for us.”

Tottenham trained on Bodo’s pitch on Wednesday, but Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was ‘not impressed’.

“We knew about it before coming in,” Vicario said. “Many teams have played here so nothing has worried us about the surface.

“You cannot change the condition of the pitch – it is just about how quickly you adapt.

“I don’t have a lot of experience on [artificial surfaces] but it’s fine. We will be ready.”

Bodo/Glimt vs Tottenham: talkSPORT coverage 

This Europa League semi-final second leg will take place on Thursday, May 8. 

Kick-off at Aspmyra Stadion is scheduled for 8pm. 

talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of the game.

Commentary will come from Alex Crook and former England striker Dean Ashton. 

To tune in to talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

talkSPORT.com will be running a live blog of the action too. 

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