NEC’s early dominance fades against Bodø/Glimt in Champions League play‑off

Update: NEC’s Champions League play‑off against Bodø/Glimt ended in a painful 1‑3 defeat, despite a late surge from the Nijmegenaren that hinted at a comeback. The Dutch side pressed early, fell behind after a quick Noren strike, and now faces a decisive return in Norway on 25 August.

Dick Schreuder entered the first leg with a familiar selection, mirroring the side that faced Willem II in the Eredivisie the previous weekend. Noé Lebreton and Emre Mor retained their starting places, the latter having starred in the third‑round return against Olympiakos.

Schreuder’s unchanged line‑up

Update: The coach opted not to alter the core of his squad, trusting the same eleven that had produced pressure against the Dutch side. Hoewel the Nijmegenaren hoped the continuity would pay off, the Noren were ready to exploit any lapse. De approach reflected confidence in the players who had performed in the Eredivisie match.

The match began with NEC applying high pressure and intensity, as expected from the Nijmegenaren. A quick Noren combination saw Sondre Braut Fet enter the box and score the opening goal, putting Bodø/Glimt ahead 0‑1. VAR later corrected a handball call on Brayann Pereira, noting that Jens Petter Hauge had also used his arm.

Norwegian dominance and NEC’s response

Soon after the break, Tobias Storm forced a penalty that Andreas Helmersen coolly converted, extending the lead to 0‑2. Met a corner from Patrick Berg, Haitam Aleesami headed the ball into the net for 0‑3. De Noren continued to dominate, leaving the Dutch side struggling to find rhythm.

Schreuder introduced fresh impulses with Kaj Sierhuis, Jamiro Monteiro and Adam Tahaui, while Linssen and Darko Nejasmic sought to create chances. New signing Almugera Kabar made his debut and Kevin Kers found space inside the lines, but the Nijmegenaren could not narrow the deficit. Het effort highlighted the difficulty of overturning the early damage.

In the final minutes Dusan Tadic delivered a cross that Clement Bischoff tapped into the second post for NEC’s first official goal, followed shortly by Kers’ header that rattled the post. Although the late effort sparked hope, the score stayed 1‑3, leaving NEC’s Champions League hopes hanging.

Tuesday 25 August sees the return leg in Norway at 21:00, where NEC must win by at least two goals to keep alive a place in the Champions League group stage and preserve three Dutch participants. The fixture will be followed on VI PRO, offering analysis and interviews as the Dutch side seeks redemption. Met the chance to reverse the deficit, the Nijmegenaren face a decisive test.