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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.”
"THE LEAST HE COULD DO": JOSE MOURINHO DEMANDS MCTOMINAY'S SHIRT ON LIVE TV
Jose Mourinho provided classic entertainment, revealing he demanded Scott McTominay's shirt because he gave him his debut—a debut that paved the way for his Serie A MVP status.
Jose Mourinho revealed the funny story behind him getting Scott McTominay's shirt after the Champions League game between Benfica and Napoli. Benfica won 2-0 with goals from Richard Rios and Leandro Barreiro. Mourinho joked with reporters, showing them McTominay's shirt from a bag he brought to the press conference.
Thanks to an old player
McTominay, who's now doing well in Serie A, got his start thanks to Mourinho, who gave him his debut at Manchester United nearly ten years ago. Mourinho first played him in May 2017 against Arsenal and then started him against Crystal Palace. McTominay quickly became a regular player in midfield during the 2017–18 season, sometimes even playing instead of Paul Pogba. Mourinho left Old Trafford in 2018, but McTominay played over 250 games for the club.
Mourinho entertains in the press room
Mourinho is known for making press conferences interesting, and this one was no different. Benfica's players were celebrating their big win, which keeps their hopes in Europe alive. Mourinho walked in with a bag, making the reporters curious. When someone asked if he was giving out gifts, Mourinho used his usual dry humour.
"The bag is mine," Mourinho said. It's Scott McTominay's shirt. I was the one who gave him a chance; I even benched Paul Pogba for him. The least he could do was give me his shirt.
After some ups and downs in Manchester, McTominay turned things around by moving to Napoli in 2024. He helped them win the league, played great in midfield, and scored 13 goals. He even finished 18th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings and was named the 2025 Serie A Player of the Year, the first Scottish player to get that award.
Benfica wins
Mourinho was happy about Benfica's win. The two-goal victory over Napoli was one of their best games in Europe this season, and he wanted to talk about how important it was.
He said, We deserved to win. We played a great match. Some people might say Napoli weren't at their best, but I don't agree. Benfica did great, controlling the game the whole time. It's great for us to beat Napoli like this and still have a chance in this competition.
He continued, We have six points. Benfica lost at home to Qarabag early on. If we hadn't, we'd have nine points and be close to qualifying. The schedule is tough, but that loss put us in a difficult spot right away. It was important to win today, or we would have been out.
Pressure at home
Benfica's situation in the league isn't as good. They're third, eight points behind Porto. With pressure from fans and a tough schedule in December, they can't afford to make any more mistakes if they want to win the title. They need to keep up their performance when they play Moreirense on Sunday. After recent stumbles in the league, Benfica needs to avoid another bad game if they want to stay close to Porto and Sporting in the title race.
LUCKY ESCAPE: MALICK THIAW'S VAR REPRIEVE STILL LEAVES UCL SUSPENSION LOOMING
Newcastle's draw with Leverkusen secured a crucial point, but three key players—Thiaw, Joelinton, and Burn—are now just one yellow card away from a critical Champions League suspension.
Newcastle drew with Leverkusen after a tough match, with a final score of 2-2.
Bruno Guimaraes scored an own goal, putting Leverkusen in the lead. Anthony Gordon then equalised with a penalty in the second half. Lewis Miley, a substitute, made it 2-1 for Newcastle before Alejandro Grimaldo levelled the score in the 88th minute.
This point should be enough for Newcastle to move on to the next round of the competition. But it makes it harder for them to get straight to the last 16 by finishing in the top eight.
Eddie Howe's team also has a few players who need to be careful to avoid suspensions in the coming Champions League games.
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NUFC Trio Could Be Banned from Champions League
Malick Thiaw is the latest Newcastle player at risk of a Champions League ban after getting his second yellow card this season.
When Leverkusen was up 1-0, things looked even worse for Newcastle when Thiaw fouled Patrik Schick near the penalty box. The referee initially called a penalty and gave Thiaw a yellow card, but VAR showed the foul was outside the area.
Newcastle got lucky as Thiaw wasn't sent off, and Leverkusen only got a free kick, which didn't lead to anything.
If a player gets three yellow cards in the Champions League before the semi-finals, they automatically get a one-match ban. So, Thiaw will likely be banned if Newcastle advances further in the competition.
This means Thiaw is just one yellow card away from being suspended for Newcastle's last two group matches against PSV Eindhoven and Paris Saint-Germain.
Joelinton is also close to a ban, having received a booking in the first two group matches. He managed to avoid a booking in Newcastle's last four Champions League games, and he scored in their 2-0 win over Athletic Club last month.
Joelinton is also one yellow card away from a suspension in the Carabao Cup, but has only been booked three times in the Premier League so far. To be banned in the Premier League, he needs two more bookings before matchday 20.
Dan Burn is also at risk of a ban after getting his second yellow card against Marseille.
All yellow cards are cleared after the quarter-finals and don't carry over to the semi-finals.
What About Other Newcastle United Players?
Aaron Ramsdale, Joe Willock, and Anthony Gordon are the other Newcastle players who have received yellow cards in the Champions League this season. They would need two more bookings to face a ban.
The only exception is if they get a red card.
But, for a bad foul, UEFA can make the punishment worse, like extending it to other competitions or making the ban longer.
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