Champions League: Historic Football Match in the Arctic
Minutes before the historic match at Bodø/Glimt's football stadium Aspmyra, based in Bodø in the county of Nordland in Northern Norway. (Photo: Hilde Bye/High North News).
Aspmyra Stadium, Northern Norway (High North News): The first-ever Champions League match above the Arctic Circle was played Tuesday night as Bodø/Glimt faced Tottenham at home.
The UEFA Champions League hymn plays at the Aspmyra Stadium in Bodø, Northern Norway, as the first-ever match of the prestigious football tournament is about to start above the Arctic Circle.
The Champions League is considered by many as the world's greatest club competition.
The Northern Norwegian team of Bodø/Glimt is hosting London-based Tottenham Hotspur FC on a bright autumn evening in the Arctic.
From the match at Aspmyra Stadium. (Hilde Bye/High North News).
Match in the North
Aspmyra Stadium, with a capacity of 8200 people, is filled with excitement. And Bodø/Glimt starts out playing offense.
During the first 45 minutes, Glimt is frequently seen in Tottenham’s court. The team has several big chances and has a ball possession of more or less 60 percent.
This is the second time London-based Tottenham Hotspur FC has visited the Arctic town.
In 2024, Glimt hosted Tottenham at Aspmyra for the Europa League tournament, a game which Tottenham won 2-0. Tottenham furthermore won the 24/25 Europa League.
Historic first goal at Aspmyra
The second half starts with Glimt taking charge; however, Tottenham is closing in.
In the 53rd minute of the game, Bodø/Glimt's left winger Jens Petter Hauge scores a beautiful goal. The first-ever goal by Bodø/Glimt at Aspmyra in the UEFA Champions League.
What a moment in the North.
66 minutes go by, and another one by Hauge, who dribbles through the Tottenham defense and puts the ball down in the right corner.
2-0.
Then, Tottenham's Micky Van de Ven scores.
Left winger Jens Petter Hauge of Bodø/Glimt.
Bodø/Glimt players celebrating with fans after Jens Petter Hauge scores.
2-2 is the end result when the referee blows the whistle after 90 + 7 minutes.
A dramatic and historic game in the Arctic.
Remaining matches
The match on Tuesday is the second of eight matches that Bodø/Glimt will play in the tournament.
In the first game, Bodø/Glimt faced Slavia Prague away, a game that ended 2-2.
In the coming months, Bodø/Glimt will meet the following teams at home:
- Juventus
- Monaco
- Manchester City
Away matches are the following:
- Galatasaray
- Borussia Dortmund
- Atletico Madrid
The game at Aspmyra Stadium on Tuesday is the first Champions League game in Norway in 18 years.
