The second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 between Sporting Lisbon and Bodo/Glimt will be played on March 17, 2026. After a surprising first-leg result, the Norwegian side enters the return match with a comfortable advantage. Even a defeat by a couple of goals could still be enough for Bodo/Glimt to advance.
Sporting Lisbon, meanwhile, must produce an aggressive performance at home if they want to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Team Situation and Season Overview
Sporting Lisbon enjoyed a highly successful domestic season last year, winning both the Primeira Liga title and the Portuguese Cup. However, maintaining that dominance has proven difficult this season.
The campaign started with disappointment when they lost the Portuguese Super Cup to Benfica. Later, they also suffered an unexpected defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes in the League Cup. In the Primeira Liga, Porto have managed to take the lead in the title race, adding pressure on the defending champions.
Still, Sporting have shown flashes of quality in key matches. They defeated Porto 1-0 in a domestic cup clash, demonstrating that they remain capable of competing with the strongest teams in Portugal.
Bodo/Glimt have also faced a challenging season. The Norwegian club has dominated the Eliteserien in recent years, but their heavy European schedule in 2025 affected their domestic campaign, allowing Viking to take the league title.
Despite that setback, Bodo/Glimt have continued to develop their reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous underdog teams in continental competitions.
Champions League Journey
Sporting Lisbon have delivered several impressive performances in Europe this season. While their away form has been inconsistent—with defeats against Napoli and Bayern Munich and a draw with Club Brugge—they also managed an important away victory in Bilbao.
At home, the Portuguese side were nearly perfect. Their most notable result came in a 2-1 victory against PSG. Those strong home performances helped Sporting qualify directly for the Round of 16.
Bodo/Glimt’s Champions League journey has been dramatic. They began the tournament with a dominant 5-0 win over Sturm Graz but surprisingly lost the return leg. Nevertheless, they advanced to the main stage.
During the group phase in 2025, the Norwegian side struggled and recorded three draws and three defeats. However, after the New Year they produced one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the competition. They defeated Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the final group matches and then shocked Inter Milan twice in the playoff round.
In the first leg against Sporting Lisbon, Bodo/Glimt once again stunned European observers by securing an emphatic 3-0 victory at home.
Head-to-Head Record
The first-leg encounter last week marked the first official meeting between Sporting Lisbon and Bodo/Glimt.
The Norwegian side’s convincing victory has placed them in a very strong position ahead of the second leg. Sporting must now attempt a difficult comeback in front of their home supporters.
Key Statistics and Trends
Sporting Lisbon have won two of their last three league matches.
The Portuguese side have only recorded home victories in recent league fixtures.
Sporting average 1.89 goals scored and concede around 1.56 per match.
Bodo/Glimt are currently on a five-match winning streak.
The Norwegian club averages 2.15 goals scored and concedes 1.46 per match.
Probable Starting Lineups
Sporting Lisbon (4-2-3-1)
Rui Silva
Fresneda – Inacio – Diomande – Vagiannidis
Simoes – Hjulmand
Guilherme – Trincao – Catamo
Suarez
Kenda remains doubtful for the match.
Bodo/Glimt (4-3-3)
Haikin
Bjorkan – Gundersen – Bjortuft – Shevold
Fet – Berg – Evjen
Hauge – Blomberg – Hegge
Crown Full Index
Asian Handicap
Sporting Lisbon -1.0
Match Result Odds
Sporting Lisbon win: 1.62
Draw: 3.90
Bodo/Glimt win: 4.80
Total Goals Line
Over/Under: 3.0
Over 3.0 goals: 1.85
Under 3.0 goals: 1.95
Both Teams to Score
Yes: 1.70
No: 2.05
Expert Prediction
Sporting Lisbon will almost certainly take the initiative from the opening minutes as they attempt to erase the three-goal deficit. Their strong home record in European matches suggests they are capable of creating significant pressure.
However, Bodo/Glimt have repeatedly proven that they can compete with top European clubs. Their recent victories over major teams demonstrate the danger they pose in counterattacks and open play.
While Sporting Lisbon are likely to win the match itself, overturning the aggregate deficit will be extremely difficult. The most realistic scenario is a competitive game with several scoring chances for both sides.
