This isn’t just Bodo—this is the greatest miracle in European football this season! Everyone was just waiting for the Norwegian machine to stop, for those stories to begin about how their success was mostly due to freezing temperatures and a small pitch in the north of Norway. But after a wild 120 minutes at the Stadio Olimpico, Bodo became the first Norwegian club ever to reach the semifinals of a European competition.Lazio tried everything, attacking like mad for 90 minutes, forcing extra time in stoppage time, and even reaching a 3:0 lead with Dija’s goal. But even that didn’t discourage the team from the north of Europe. Bodo showed they still had life in them, that they’d toughened up mentally in earlier matches, and with a goal from Helmersen, they took the match to penalties. And there, one Russian was stronger than all of Lazio. Stronger than a packed Olimpico.THIS IS WHERE SPURS WILL TRAVEL FOR EUROPA LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL 🥶Aspmyra Stadion, home of Bodo/Glimt 😍 pic.twitter.com/XnhlqVhVCp— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) April 18, 2025 Nikita Haikin secured his place in Bodo’s history by saving shots from Cauna and Castellanos in the fifth round of the shootout. A moment for the history of this small club, for the story of the beloved underdog of European football.Lazio showed they were two or three classes better than Bodo, pinning the Norwegians in their own box. But history is written by the victors, and the victors are the boys from Bodo with an incredible accomplishment. They’ve even pushed that legendary Rosenborg team from the late ’90s into second place among elite Norwegian squads.And after all we’ve seen this season—after surviving the chaos at the Olimpico, extra time, and penalties—who would dare write them off against Tottenham? Because if in one season you beat Porto, crush Maccabi Tel Aviv, win away at Braga, then knock out Twente, Olympiacos, and Lazio… you’re not some fluke. You’re serious quality.Nikita Haikin’s penalty stop 🥶@Glimt | #UEL pic.twitter.com/ZcMLVcvhro— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) March 21, 2025 Yes, it’s true that Bodo/Glimt was outplayed tonight at the Olimpico. They played a defensive game and survived Lazio’s relentless attacks largely thanks to their Russian goalkeeper Haikin. The Italians swarmed like wasps, barely giving Bodo players a chance to lift their heads. At times, the visitors were defending with nine men in the box.Lazio bombarded Haikin’s goal from all directions, especially after the 20th minute when Castellanos scored with a brilliant backheel after an assist from Isaksen. It looked like the Norwegians were going to collapse, unaccustomed to such an atmosphere where the passion from the stands drives the home team forward. But Lazio missed several colossal chances. Bodo’s defense stayed compact, relying on Haikin’s spectacular night. The Russian keeper made a phenomenal save against Zaccagni in the second half, just when Bodo could barely breathe.Ingiocabile 🩵#LazioBodo#UEL#AvantiLazio pic.twitter.com/BsKNejL0pi— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) April 17, 2025 The Olimpico was on fire—no one remembers when Lazio fans created such an atmosphere outside of Rome derbies. They kept waiting… and waiting… and finally, they were rewarded. After a scramble in Bodo’s box, Norwegian Noslin somehow pushed the ball into the net.That’s when the real drama started. Bodo was rocked. Helmersen missed a sitter from three meters just before Lazio’s second goal. The Olimpico was in ecstasy. And then Dija scored in the ninth minute of extra time to make it 3:0. Lazio had finally reached the score they were chasing.Bodo couldn’t respond—at least not right away. But like Rocky Balboa against Apollo Creed, beaten and bloodied, they swung one last punch. And it landed. Helmersen scored with a header and brought the match back to life.Top saves in the Europa League tonight.Nikita Haikin and Christos Mandas at Lazio – Bodø/Glimt.Lucas Perri and Andre Onana at Manchester United – Lyon.Julen Agirrezabala at Athletic Bilbao – Rangers.pic.twitter.com/Fba8G1O3Tw— Kyama (@ElijahKyama_) April 18, 2025 And it was embodied in the saves by Nikita Haikin. First, he stopped Cauna’s shot in the second round of penalties, then read Castellanos perfectly in the fifth round… (Noslin shot wide in the third). Before that, Berg and Hauge had missed their penalties—but that no longer matters.Let Bodo celebrate.##NAJAVA_MECA_8867619##
