Spurs are on the way to Bilbao!

We’re heading to the Europa League Final in Bilbao in just under two weeks’ time after a superb disciplined performance gave us a 2-0 victory in Norway to see us progress 5-1 on aggregate against Bodø/Glimt.

Leading 3-1 from the first leg in N17 seven days ago, there were concerns that an artificial surface and chilly conditions in deepest northern Norway would be tough to negotiate at Bodø’s Aspmyra Stadium. But we did everything right on the night – defended well, showed great character and commitment and scored two second half goals to book our place in the showpiece occasion at Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium, against Manchester United, victors over Athletic Bilbao in the other semi-final.

After a fairly even first half in which we kept Bodø pretty much at bay, we made the crucial breakthrough in the second period as Dominic Solanke scored his third goal in three successive Euro games before Pedro Porro’s attempted cross ended up in the net to start the celebrations!

The weather was miserable and grey and the tiny Aspmyra Stadium might only hold 8,500, but that didn’t prevent a wonderful atmosphere as kick-off approached with the home fans enjoying the biggest game in their club’s history. But perhaps there was a touch of nerves early on from our hosts as we were able to settle quickly into the game and there were just two minutes gone when Richarlison had a shot blocked.

Ole Didrik Blomberg fired an angled drive into the side-netting with Bodø’s first chance before home goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was twice called into action. First, he had to get a strong touch to push away Destiny Udogie’s cross on the overlap while he made a fine save in the 23rd minute. Solanke was brought down 22 yards out, Pedro Porro stepped up to take the free-kick and clipped right-footed over the wall only for Haikin to tip the ball over the crossbar. The home side started to grow into the game and, just after the half hour mark, Patrick Berg hit a free-kick out on the left which was dipping in until Guglielmo Vicario pushed it away for a corner, while Kasper Hogh sent a header high and wide. We were on the front foot as the half drew to a close and had the last sight of goal right on the half-time whistle, Yves Bissouma lashing a shot well over the bar but we went into the interval in a great position in the tie.

Bodø had to come out fighting for the second period and were starting to throw more crosses into the danger zone, but we were defending really well with Micky van de Ven and Udogie in particular making vital interventions. Then came the big moment in the 63rd minute. Mathys Tel had just come on for Richarlison and took a deep corner from the left, the outstanding Cristian Romero did superbly well to climb high and head it back into mix where Solanke was on hand to slide the ball home to send 400 or so Spurs fans into sheer delight in the rain!

It was a goal that took the sting out of the contest as we extended our advantage to three goals overall in the tie, and that soon became four just six minutes later. There might have been a touch of good fortune as Pedro Porro’s cross in from the right flew over Haikin, hit the far post and nestled in the back of the net, but we weren’t complaining! In truth, there was little goalmouth action of note after that apart from a straight-forward Vicario save from Sondre Sorli’s 20-yard drive, while the referee awarded the hosts a penalty in the final seconds of the game, although he reversed his decision after VAR advised he check the pitchside monitor, as Pedro Porro had clearly won the ball from Sorli. That meant we became the first side in 2025 to stop Bodø from scoring at home as we enjoyed a glory, glory night – hopefully with another big one to come in Spain on 21 May! Get in!

Match data

Goals: Spurs – Solanke 63, Pedro Porro 69.

Yellow cards: Bodø/Glimt – Hogh; Spurs – Johnson, Vicario.

Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy).

Venue: Aspmyra Stadium, Bodo.

Weather: Cloudy, light rain, seven degrees.