A sunny afternoon in the Aspmyra Stadion set the stage for the biggest match of the Matchday 2 of Eliteserien.

Bodø/Glimt received Viking in a match between the 1st and 4th of last season, respectively. Indeed, it was an important match for both teams.

Tactical approach

Bodø/Glimt – playing at home, used a 1-4-3-3 formation, maintaining the same shape while in defence. In attack, they were patient with the ball, looked to circulate the ball around in the ground. The wing backs often searched to overlap with the wingers.

Viking – played with a cautious 1-4-3-3 formation focused to launch counterattacks and to attack with quick transitions. They looked mostly to pass over to Salvensen or through for both wings. When in their defensive half, they defended very deep with a compact shape between 1-4-5-1 and 1-5-4-1.

 Summary

The match started well disputed with Viking exerting a high and intense pressure when Bodø/Glimt was trying to play from the back. When in the back, Viking defended both very compactly and deeply, with a 1-4-5-1/1-5-4-1 in which Joe Bell would drop to the line of defenders. As a result, indeed, the home team had difficultys to  make plays from the back. When in its attacking half, Bodø/Glimt seemed more organised and patient, circulating the ball around to try to find spaces.

After the first 10 minutes, Viking dropped the high pressure. They started betting on the counterattacks and quick attacks. Consequently, Bodø/Glimt started having more ball but were unable to create clear goal chances. In accordance, despite Bodø’s higher ball possession, the best chance in the first half belonged to Viking.

By the half time, it seemed like both teams were more worried in not conceding a goal rather than scoring. Bodø/Glimt’s positioning in the field didn’t change, and Viking brought down both wingers closer to the midfield line and advanced Tangen in order to both support Salvensen and help  in the pressing moments.

The second half started a bit more open. Bodø/Glimt arrived nearer to the opposition’s area, but the lack of ideas was notorious. On the other hand, Viking defended in a less compact manner, either in a 1-4-1-4-1 where Bell would supress the space between lines, or in a 1-4-4-2 where Tangen would help Salvensen in pressing the ball carrier.

Around minute 60, the visiting team looked a bit more dangerous and attacking, thus started to open more spaces in the defence.

The match changed with the arrival of Sondre Sørli (subbed in at 76’). The right winger brought clarity to the home team and made good use of the space conceded to assist in the only goal of the match (1-0).

Viking tried to draw, with more heart than brains, until the very end, but was unable score.

It was an even match that ended in 1-0 to the home side. Tactically, both teams nullified each other and seemed more worried in not conceding rather than scoring. It was a dull match where the lack of creativity and big goal chances was predominant. Bodø/Glimt’s team looks to have different characteristics this season. Viking seems more cautious on its tactical approach.

 Key players

Sondre Sørli – He unblocked the match for Bodø/Glimt. Came from the bench with less than 20 minutes to play. He brought speed, vision, and creativity. The stats show how important he was:

2 Crosses completed (Bodø had 4 crosses completed when the match finished)

2 Key passes

2 Big chances created (the only 2 big chances Bodø had)

1 Assist

Viljar Vevatne – Viking’s best player in this match. He was always focused while defending and tried to help in the attack. Unbeatable in the duels he had, the stats are impressive:

6 Tackles

6/6 Ground duels won

3/3 Aerial duels won

2 Key passes

1 Big chance created

Reference database: Sofascore and Fotmob

Animations made in Tactical Board