Despite the vast differences in history, resources, and stature between the two clubs, Bodo/Glimt surprisingly find themselves ahead of United at the midway point of the league phase. Amorim’s tenure began with a mixed performance on Sunday, as United were held to a 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
Marcus Rashford gave United a dream start with a goal just 82 seconds into the match, but the team lost momentum. Omari Hutchinson equalized for Ipswich, and the hosts arguably had the better chances to win. After the match, Amorim acknowledged that rebuilding this United team into a top contender will be a long, challenging journey.
For now, the focus shifts to the Europa League, where Amorim hopes to lead United into the knockout stage. This is a different stage for him—earlier this year, he orchestrated Sporting Lisbon’s stunning 4-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League. But now, he's tasked with guiding United out of a tricky group phase.
United only earned their first win of the league phase in matchday four, defeating PAOK 2-0 under Ruud van Nistelrooy. That victory ended a 12-month winless streak in European competitions and lifted them to 15th place in the standings.
To secure a top-eight finish, United will need strong results in their remaining games against Bodo/Glimt, Viktoria Plzen, FCSB, and Rangers. Four wins would likely guarantee progression, though their seeding may be lower due to the strong form of teams like Lazio.
Meanwhile, Bodo/Glimt are heading into one of the biggest weeks in their history. After their first-ever visit to Old Trafford, they’ll return home for the Eliteserien season finale, where a win against Lillestrom will secure the league title. Confidence is high after their 2-0 win over Odd last weekend, combined with Brann’s loss to Molde. However, juggling two critical matches in three days could test their limits.
The Norwegians will still be smarting from a surprise loss to Qarabag on matchday four, which marked just their fifth defeat in 32 European home games. That result felt like a missed opportunity, especially after their strong showing earlier in the group stage, including a win over Porto. While they’ve historically struggled in away games, Bodo/Glimt earned valuable points on trips to Braga and Union SG, proving they can compete on the road.
Still, a result at Old Trafford seems a tall order given United's strong home form in the Europa League. Bodo/Glimt will likely shift their focus to earning points in their final group games against Besiktas, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, and Nice, hoping to secure a spot in the top 24 and advance to the next stage.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Manchester United’s injury crisis is concentrated at center-back, and it doesn’t look like any of the sidelined players will be available for this match. As a result, Noussair Mazraoui and Jonny Evans may once again line up in a back three alongside Matthijs de Ligt.There’s some good news, though—Lisandro Martinez’s hip injury isn’t as bad as initially feared, and he might be back in time for the weekend clash with Everton. However, Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, and Victor Lindelof are still further away from making their returns.
In brighter developments, Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw rejoined the squad over the weekend after lengthy spells out. Shaw even made a late substitute appearance, and both could see some minutes in this game as they build up match fitness.
Midfield options remain limited, with Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte unlikely to start as they continue their recovery. The focus for them, as well as the rest of the squad, seems to be on prioritizing readiness for Everton.
Bodo/Glimt, meanwhile, face their own challenges, missing five key players—Omar Elabdellaoui, Samuel Burakovsky, Daniel Bassi, Gaute Vetti, and Syver Skeide—for their first-ever meeting with United.
Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin is likely to have another busy night, having already made 24 saves in the first four games of the Europa League’s group phase—the most of any keeper in the competition.
In midfield, Patrick Berg has been a standout performer, with 22 tackles and 12 interceptions, both the highest totals in the tournament so far. His defensive efforts will be crucial once again as Bodo/Glimt try to limit United’s chances and keep Haikin’s workload as light as possible.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester United possible starting lineup:Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Evans; Amad, Casemiro, Eriksen, Shaw; Antony, Hojlund, Fernandes
Bodo/Glimt possible starting lineup:
Haikin; Sjovold, Nielsen, Bjortuft, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Saltnes; Zinckernagel, Hogh, Hauge
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester United 2-1 Bodo Glimt
Bodo/Glimt, while not known for their strength on the road, have already pulled off a surprise win against Braga in this campaign. However, with this being one of the biggest games in their history, an upset against United seems unlikely.
