CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SHOCKER: LUCIANO SPALLETTI RANKS BODø/GLIMT ABOVE JUVE IN CERTAIN AREAS
Luciano Spalletti warns Juventus face a tough challenge vs Bodo/Glimt. The Juventus manager cites freezing Norwegian weather and an artificial pitch as major disadvantages for his team in this crucial Champions League clash.
Luciano Spalletti thinks Juventus might struggle in their Champions League game against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday. He pointed to the freezing temperatures and the artificial field at Aspmyra Stadion in Norway as potential problems.
Juventus is still trying to get its first Champions League win this season. So far, they've tied with Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, and Sporting CP, and lost 1-0 to Real Madrid.
With only three points, Juventus isn't in a spot to advance. They're in 26th place, just ahead of Bodo/Glimt, who they play on Tuesday. Bodo/Glimt has two ties and two losses in their first four European games.
Spalletti said that the field and weather put Juventus at a disadvantage.
At a press conference on Monday, Spalletti wanted everyone to stay calm. He said things aren't as bad as they seem after their 1-1 tie with Fiorentina.
“Let’s just take it one step at a time. It's not like we've had total failure. The players did alright. I’ve said before that we need to do better and get out of this situation. We need to use what we have and play to our strengths. I can see that the team wants to do well.”
About the game against Bodo/Glimt, Spalletti added, “The field and weather are a disadvantage. I’ve been lucky enough to coach in other countries. The air is different; it’s really cold, and we're not used to it. It’s just different from what we're used to.”
“We need to want it more than they do to make up for the differences between the two teams. They’re great at finding talented players. It’s not just the field and the cold. They're valuable, and they've played well in international games.”
So, what does Spalletti expect from his players in Norway?
“This is a new challenge, and I hope they can adjust. They need to know how to handle a team that fights hard and makes things tough for everyone. If we want to compete, we need to see how fast they are and play good, smart football, even on this kind of field.”
“In Florence, the ball wasn't moving fast enough in the first half, so we tried to play through the middle. I saw some changes in the second half. We have talent, but we need to complete our passes and not let the other team score on us.
“We need to get used to the weather, avoid mistakes, and play our best. We've been good at punishing teams, but we also need to create space. We need to think beyond the first pass and get better at that.”
How will the artificial field affect Juventus's play?
Spalletti said that the field and the weather are a problem because of the way the ball bounces and moves. That could hurt us, but we’ll deal with it. We’ve been scared before, so we’ll face it and adapt. The field is a factor, but we want to play well.”
Can Juventus learn anything from Lazio's game against Bodo/Glimt last season?
“They play well, but I talk to my players directly. They need to understand that tomorrow will be tough. We’ve watched them, and our analysts have too. Speed is important, and we know that. We want to be ready. We don’t want easy games; we want hard ones. We want to adapt and get credit for it.”
When asked if he would switch to a back four against Bodo/Glimt, Spalletti said he would make some changes to the starting lineup.
“We’ll switch some players around. We can’t leave any gaps because they’re strong and know how to play close together. We need to stay tight and make them play around us.”
INJURY CRISIS: L’EQUIPE CONFIRMS MBAPPE FAILED FITNESS TESTS AHEAD OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DECIDER.
Discover why Kylian Mbappe is officially out of the Real Madrid vs Benfica clash and Arbeloa's tactical response.
Kylian Mbappe looks set to miss the second leg of Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off with Benfica after picking up a knee injury in training. Madrid hosts Benfica at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Lisbon.
Mbappe left training early on Tuesday because of pain in his left knee. L’Equipe reports that he had tests that afternoon, and the results were pretty clear: there’s no way he’ll play against Benfica.
That’s a big shift from what Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa said just hours before. In his press conference, Arbeloa insisted Mbappe was ready and had been pushing through the pain for weeks.
“Kylian is ready to play tomorrow, and really, that’s what matters most right now. He’s been here for weeks, and everyone can see the commitment he’s showing to his teammates, to the team, to me, to the club, and to the fans. I want to point out just how hard Kylian is working. He’s trying to help us out there.
“He changes the game. Any defender facing him knows he can decide things in a second. He’s ready for tomorrow; we’ll need him, and he’ll have a great game.”
Meanwhile, Benfica comes to Madrid under a cloud. The first leg was marred by Vinicius Junior’s claim that Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni racially abused him after Vinicius scored the only goal. Prestianni has been handed a provisional one-match Champions League ban, though he denies the accusation. He says he actually directed a homophobic slur at Vinicius after being called a “dwarf” by the Brazilian. That defence probably won’t hold, and he could end up with a longer ban.
Arbeloa and Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois both spoke about the incident on Tuesday. Arbeloa said, “We have a chance to make a real difference in the fight against racism. UEFA always says it’s fighting racism, but this is a moment to go beyond slogans or banners. I hope they take it.
“For us, the focus is on playing at a high level and doing the job on the pitch so we can win. That’s where our energy is going. The rest, honestly, isn’t our responsibility. That’s for UEFA to decide.”
Courtois added, “A lot of things haven’t been handled well. Racism and homophobia – none of that is acceptable, and the insult is just as serious. Vini didn’t do anything wrong. He celebrated the way plenty of opponents have celebrated against us. In the end, we have to move forward. You can’t excuse an act of racism because of a celebration.”
THE SPEED FACTOR: IS IVáN FRESNEDA TRULY THE FASTEST DEFENDER IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
Is he PL-bound? Analyse Fresneda's speed, Sporting's depth, and why Arsenal and City are monitoring the 21-year-old star.
Newcastle United, Manchester City, and Arsenal are all keeping tabs on Sporting’s right-back Iván Fresneda ahead of the summer transfer window. Sporting seem pretty open to selling him for less than his €80m (£69m) release clause.
That’s according to A Bola in Portugal, which says Sporting are ready to talk if someone shows up with a good offer for the 21-year-old. They haven’t set a final price yet, but they’re willing to negotiate.
Fresneda has turned into a key player under Rui Borges this season. Switching from a 3-4-3 to a 4-2-3-1 really helped him lock down the starting right-back spot, and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed. He’s also picked up more attention with Spain’s Under-21 team.
The interest from England isn’t new; Newcastle, City, and Arsenal have all been linked before. But as things stand, Sporting haven’t actually received any formal offers. There’s been some early interest, but nothing concrete has landed in Lisbon.
Sporting put an €80m (£69m) release clause in Fresneda’s contract when they signed him from Real Valladolid for €9m (£7.8m) last year. Still, they’re not insisting on the full amount. They’re open to a deal that reflects how much he’s improved, so there’s definitely room for negotiation if the right bid comes in.
From Sporting’s side, they’re in a strong spot. Georgios Vagiannidis joined in 2025 and is under contract until 2030. Salvador Blopa is set to step up after doing well with the B team, and Diogo Travassos will return from Moreirense; he can even play as a winger. With that kind of depth, Sporting don’t have to panic about finding a replacement right away. They have options, and, honestly, that gives them leverage in any talks.
So what does this mean for Newcastle, City, and Arsenal? Basically, it’s an opportunity. There’s no sign of a bidding war yet. Fresneda’s profile checks a lot of boxes: he’s young, he’s got international experience with Spain’s Under-21s, he’s played in the Champions League, and he’s one of the fastest players in this year’s competition. Pace at full-back is always in demand in the Premier League.
He’s expected to get another Spain Under-21 call-up in March for the games against Cyprus and Kosovo. That kind of exposure will only boost his value.
Timing is everything here. No one’s made a formal move yet, but Sporting are clearly open to selling him this summer. If one of the English clubs moves early with a serious offer of something less than €80m but well above the €9m they paid, things could pick up fast.
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