# Bodø/Glimt Advances to Champions League League Phase > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uefa-europa-league-202627-scheduling > Updated: 2026-08-18T05:08:06.000Z. Sources: 40. Developments: 4. Bodø/Glimt has secured their place in the UEFA Champions League league phase following a 3-0 victory against NEC Nijmegen in the second leg of their playoff tie at Aspmyra Stadion. This result gave the Norwegian side a 6-1 aggregate win, following a 3-1 victory in the first leg in the Netherlands. The match was heavily influenced by an early red card for NEC goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz in the third minute, who was sent off for a handball outside the penalty area. This forced NEC to substitute Kaj Sierhuis for reserve goalkeeper Nikolas Polster early in the game. Bodø/Glimt capitalized on the numerical advantage, with Fredrik Bjørkan and Sondre Auklend scoring late in the first half. An own goal by Deveron Fonville in the 73rd minute finalized the 3-0 scoreline. Following this defeat, NEC Nijmegen will move to the Europa League competition. With this victory, Bodø/Glimt joins other qualifying clubs, such as LASK and Sabah, in the tournament’s new league phase format. This qualification marks the second consecutive season the club has reached this stage, representing another significant milestone in their growing reputation in European competitions. International media, including ESPN, have characterized the Norwegian club as the tournament’s ‘feel-good story,’ noting their transition from a regional challenger to an established presence in Europe's premier competition. The tie also drew attention to off-field disputes. NEC director Wilco van Schaik criticized the dressing room conditions in Norway, a claim Bodø/Glimt officials denied, pointing to the club’s history of hosting major teams like Manchester City and Inter Milan. Additionally, Bodø/Glimt has introduced new security measures for star player Patrick Berg following his increased popularity. Bodø/Glimt’s advancement coincides with a historic moment for Norwegian football, as Viking FK also secured Champions League qualification after defeating Dinamo Zagreb 3-1. ## Claims - Bodø/Glimt defeated NEC Nijmegen 3-1 in the Champions League play-offs. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Celtic defeated LASK Linz 3-0. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Hapoel Beer Sheva defeated Sabah 2-1. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Fett scored for Bodø/Glimt in the 25th minute. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Hjelmseren scored a penalty for Bodø/Glimt in the 44th minute. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Alesem scored for Bodø/Glimt in the 50th minute. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Bissoph scored for NEC Nijmegen in the 85th minute. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Camilo Duran scored two goals for Celtic. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-18: Bodø/Glimt defeat NEC Nijmegen 3-1 in Champions League playoff Bodø/Glimt took a major step toward the Champions League League Phase after defeating NEC Nijmegen 3-1 in their playoff first leg. 33 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uefa-europa-conference-league-playoff-matches-scheduled-for-august-20 ### 2026-08-11: Europa League and Conference League qualifiers scheduled for August 13 European football continues on August 13, 2026, with critical Europa League and Conference League qualifying matches, including high-stakes fixtures for Rangers, Beşiktaş, and Red Bull Salzburg. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uefa-conference-and-europa-league-fixtures-scheduled-for-august-13 ### 2026-08-03: UEFA Europa League play-off draw scheduled for August 20 and 27 UEFA drew the 2026/27 Europa League play‑offs on Aug 3, setting first legs for Aug 20 and return legs for Aug 27, while Aug 5 features Champions League preliminaries and a Milan‑Inter friendly in Australia. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uefa-europa-league-play-off-draw-scheduled-for-august-20-and-27 ### 2026-07-22: Europa and Conference League fixtures for Thursday 23 July 2026 Thursday, 23 July 2026 sees 40 Europa and Conference League matches, including Vojvodina‑Ajax and Paks‑Panathinaikos, with fixtures across Europe from 16:30 to 21:15. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/europa-and-conference-league-fixtures-for-thursday-23-july-2026 --- Cite as: Bodø/Glimt Advances to Champions League League Phase. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uefa-europa-league-202627-scheduling