Bodø/Glimt 3-1 NEC: Set-pieces and 64 clearances decide the match

Bodø/Glimt beat NEC Nijmegen 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League Playoff Round on 8 August 2024. The match took place at Stadion de Goffert, and the winners employed a dominant set-piece strategy.

Set-pieces

Bodø/Glimt scored the first goal at 25 minutes when Jens Petter Hauge passed to Sondre Fet, who placed the ball low to the left. At 44 minutes, Andreas Helmersen received a penalty and made it 2-0. Five minutes later, at 49 minutes, Haitam Aleesami headed a corner from Patrick Berg to make it 3-0. NEC only returned in the 85th minute with a goal from Clement Bischoff after Dušan Tadić created a big chance.

Defensive masterclass

Bodø/Glimt’s backline dominated their own box with 64 clearances, compared to 11 from NEC. They executed 26 tackles versus 15 from the opposition and won 53% of duels, including 56% of aerial duels. Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin made 5 saves, including 3 big stops, and claimed a high ball.

Aleesami delivered 14 clearances and 2 tackles, Fredrik André Bjørkan 5 tackles, Odin Luras Bjørtuft 12 clearances, Fredrik Sjøvold 11 clearances and 4 tackles, and Patrick Berg 6 clearances. Total fouls were 12 for Bodø/Glimt and 9 for NEC.

Statistics and analysis

NEC had 69% possession and 96 final-third entries, but produced 22 shots (6 on target) versus 8 shots (4 on target) from Bodø/Glimt. Chances were 2 for NEC (1 created) and 3 for Bodø/Glimt (2 created). In the box, NEC had 32 touches, Bodø/Glimt 18. Crosses: NEC 43 (19% accurate), Bodø/Glimt 4 (1 successful). Expected goals (xG) were 0.00 for both teams.

Darko Nejašmić was named MVP with a Sofascore rating of 8.3. He completed 56 of 66 passes, 11 long passes (5 accurate), 84 touches, 29 ball carries, 4 tackles (3 won) and 7 ball recoveries. Tjaronn Chery had 6 key passes and 11 corners, Adam Tahaui 3 key passes and 11 corners, and Bischoff 3 shots and 4 key passes.

Result

The dominant set-piece execution and the 64 clearances from Bodø/Glimt were the key to the 3-1 result. NEC had possession and pressure, but missed the chance to convert moments in the penalty area.