Bodo/Glimt moved a significant step closer to reaching this season's Champions League after securing a 3-1 victory away to NEC Nijmegen in the first leg of their qualifying tie.
The Norwegian champions, who captured the attention of European football last term with a memorable run in the competition, showed once again that they are capable of performing on the road against continental opposition. Their triumph in the Netherlands leaves them firmly in the driving seat ahead of the return fixture, with a two-goal cushion to protect on home soil.
Bodo/Glimt's ability to trouble established European sides has become something of a trademark in recent seasons, and this latest result suggests the club has lost none of its momentum heading into another campaign. Having already made headlines with their exploits in Europe previously, the Norwegian outfit will now be eyeing a return to the Champions League group stage, a competition they memorably lit up with their attacking style of play.
For NEC Nijmegen, the defeat represents a considerable setback in their own European ambitions. The Dutch side will need to produce a vastly improved performance in the second leg if they are to overturn the deficit and keep their hopes of progression alive. A two-goal margin is not insurmountable, but doing so against a team as dangerous in transition as Bodo/Glimt will be a stern test of their resolve.
The first leg victory continues a pattern of strong away form for Bodo/Glimt in European competition, where they have often looked more comfortable than many would expect from a side hailing from Norway's top flight. Their attacking approach, built on quick combinations and high pressing, has repeatedly caused problems for sides across the continent, and NEC found themselves on the receiving end of that quality in this latest encounter.
Should Bodo/Glimt see out the tie over the two legs, it would mark another remarkable achievement for a club that has punched well above its weight in recent European campaigns. Qualification for the Champions League proper would not only be a financial boost but also further cement their reputation as one of the most entertaining and unpredictable teams competing outside Europe's traditional powerhouse leagues.
Attention now turns to the second leg, where NEC will be desperate to find an early goal to give their supporters belief that a comeback is possible. Bodo/Glimt, for their part, will look to manage the tie sensibly while still posing an attacking threat, mindful that a place in one of club football's most prestigious competitions is now within reach.
The return fixture promises to be a tense affair, with NEC needing a big performance in front of their own fans to keep their European dream alive, while Bodo/Glimt will be aiming to close out the tie and continue their remarkable European journey of recent years.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.