Bayern Munich face Bodø/Glimt test as Champions League campaign begins

Bayern Munich begin their Champions League league-phase campaign against Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt at the Allianz Arena on Thursday, with Vincent Kompany’s team expected to take three points despite the visitors’ impressive run of form.

The Bavarian club are unbeaten since the start of the 2026-27 season and are seeking the ideal European opening after being held to a goalless draw by newly promoted Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga last weekend. Bodø/Glimt, meanwhile, travel to Munich aiming for an eighth consecutive victory in all competitions.

Bayern reached the semi-finals of last season’s Champions League and will hope to go one step further this term, with the final scheduled to be played in Madrid. They made a perfect start domestically, winning their first three matches and claiming the German Super Cup with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund on 22 August.

That run was checked by Schalke, who secured a 0-0 draw at the weekend, but Bayern remain strong favourites to win their first European fixture. The German champions have won their opening match in each of their past 22 Champions League campaigns.

They have also lost only once at home in 2026, recording 15 victories and two draws in their other matches at the Allianz Arena. Anything short of victory against Bodø/Glimt would therefore represent a significant disappointment for Kompany’s side.

Bodø/Glimt arrive in excellent form

Kjetil Knutsen’s team had to negotiate two qualifying rounds to reach the Champions League league phase, underlining the significance of their return to the competition’s main draw.

Bodø/Glimt eliminated Union Saint-Gilloise 6-5 on aggregate in the third qualifying round before overcoming NEC Nijmegen 6-1 across the two legs of last month’s play-off.

The Norwegian club also impressed in their first Champions League campaign in 2025-26, reaching the last 16 after producing a notable result against Inter Milan in the play-offs. Although they will be clear underdogs in Munich, their recent performances suggest Bayern cannot afford to underestimate them.

Bodø/Glimt beat Fredrikstad 2-1 in the Norwegian league on Friday and have now won seven matches in succession. Their unbeaten run stands at 20 games.

Bayern’s recent record in all competitions is three wins and one draw. Bodø/Glimt’s Champions League form is one draw followed by three victories, while their overall form shows five successive wins.

Team news

Bayern will again be without versatile forward Serge Gnabry, although Kompany hopes the player can return next week. Jamal Musiala is expected to operate as the number 10 in Gnabry’s absence, with Michael Olise and Luis Diaz providing width behind striker Harry Kane.

Kim Min-jae should partner Dayot Upamecano in central defence, while Tarek Buchmann continues his rehabilitation following ankle surgery during the summer.

Bodø/Glimt have concerns in central defence, where Jostein Gundersen is ruled out with a hamstring injury and Haitam Aleesami is doubtful because of a leg problem. Villads Nielsen and Odin Bjørtuft are expected to start together.

Midfielders Magnus Bech Riisnæs and Hakon Evjen are unavailable with knee injuries, leaving Sondre Auklend, Patrick Berg and Sondre Brunstad Fet likely to form the central midfield three.

August Mikkelsen is recovering from a groin problem, while left winger Jens Petter Hauge is expected to play after returning to training this week. Hauge was substituted early in the win over Fredrikstad.

Probable Bayern Munich line-up: Manuel Neuer; Konrad Laimer, Kim Min-jae, Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies; Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic; Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Luis Diaz; Harry Kane.

Probable Bodø/Glimt line-up: Nikita Haikin; Fredrik Sjøvold, Villads Nielsen, Odin Bjørtuft, Patrick Berg? Wait (lineup says Bjorkan), Fredrik Bjørkan; Sondre Auklend, Patrick Berg, Sondre Brunstad Fet; Isak Maatta? (source Blomberg), Kasper Høgh? (Helmersen), Jens Petter Hauge.

The source’s probable lineup lists Haikin; Sjøvold, Nielsen, Bjørtuft, Bjørkan; Auklend, Berg, Fet; Blomberg, Helmersen, Hauge.

Bayern’s attacking quality should allow them to recover from the stalemate against Schalke and begin their European campaign with a win. However, Bodø/Glimt’s form suggests the visitors can trouble the home defence and score at least once.

The prediction is for a controlled Bayern victory, with both teams scoring and a final result of 3-1.

The recommended exact-score bet is Bayern Munich to win 3-1, with odds of 9.00 at Betclic. Other suggested selections are both teams to score at 1.75, more than 3.5 goals at 1.38 and Harry Kane to score at 1.30.

The prediction was written by Hakim Kraiem, who describes himself as a football writer and analyst, a supporter of AS Roma and an enthusiast of Italian football.