Bodø/Glimt vs Sporting CP Champions League preview: Where to watch, predicted line-ups, form, coaches' thoughts

After taking down Inter in the knockout phase play-offs, Bodø/Glimt's next challenge is the league phase's seventh-place finishers Sporting CP.

Where to watch on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What you need to know

A quarter-final berth would represent a historic step for both of these clubs, with Bodø/Glimt eyeing a last-eight appearance in their debut season while Champions League regulars Sporting CP only previously reached the quarter-finals of this competition in the 1982/83 season.

Winless until Matchday 7, Bodø/Glimt have now celebrated four landmark wins in a row – a home win over Manchester City and a 2-1 triumph at Atleti's Estadio Metropolitano securing their passage from the league phase before they defeated Inter home and away in the play-offs. Sporting achieved some similarly impressive results on their way to a top-eight finish, notably beating holders Paris 2-1 on Matchday 7.

Possible line-ups

Bodø/Glimt: Haikin; Sjøvold, Bjørtuft, Gundersen, Bjørkan; Evjen, Berg, Brunstad Fet; Blomberg, Høgh, Hauge

Sporting CP: Rui Silva; Vagiannidis, Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Fresneda; João Simões, Hjulmand; Catamo, Francisco Trincão, Luis Guilherme; Suárez

Form guide

Bodø/Glimt

Form: WWWWWD (most recent result first)
Latest: Molde 1-2 Bodø/Glimt, 05/03, Norwegian Cup

Sporting CP

Form: DWWWWD
Latest: Braga 2-2 Sporting CP, 07/03, Portuguese First Division

Views from the camps

Kjetil Knutsen, Bodø/Glimt coach: "We have had good results against teams from Portugal, that's for sure, but this is a different team and we know we are playing against a top, top European side. We know all about them and they know all about us; there are no secrets. It's really important for us to give a really good performance and be ready for a physical game, a game with high intensity. Hopefully we can play a good game and get a good result."

Rui Borges, Sporting CP coach: "For me, [Bodø/Glimt's presence in the last 16] is not in the least surprising. Last season they reached the semi-finals of the Europa League, and this term they've already beaten some great sides. We are two teams with enormous ambition, a little different in terms of approach. Two teams determined to make history."

Reporter's view

Sara Nilssen Kilen, match reporter

Sporting CP arrive in the Arctic Circle after a solid league phase, finishing in the top eight and reaching the round of 16 for the third time in the Champions League era. The Portuguese side will look to Francisco Trincão, who has contributed four goals and two assists and remains a key source of creativity. Meanwhile, Bodø/Glimt are full of confidence after knocking out last season's runners-up Inter in the play-offs. With his pace and attacking threat, Jens Petter Hauge will key for the hosts, having already scored six goals in the competition this campaign. The stage is set for an intriguing first meeting under the Arctic night sky.