FC Porto had a bad start in the 2024/25 edition of the Europa League. Facing Bodø/Glimt in Norway, the blue and whites scored first, but conceded three consecutive goals from the local champion and only managed to score again once (3-2). Samu scored again, Deniz Gül scored his first, but the Dragons returned from the Arctic Circle without any points in the first of the eight rounds of the league stage.

Vítor Bruno sent in Marko Grujic, Iván Jaime and Gonçalo Borges instead of Alan Varela, Galeno and Pepê, and the Spanish winger made the first warning, in a cross that Nikita Haikin saved. Eight minutes in, after a good cross from Borges, Francisco Moura found Samu and the striker scored for the third consecutive game, opening the scoreboard at the Aspmyra Stadion (0-1).

The goal in no way shook the Norwegian team, who remained true to their plan and was able to capitalize from it 15 minutes in, when Kasper Hogh took advantage of space found behind the blue and white defence to beat Diogo Costa (1-1). The tie didn’t please the outsiders, but the ones visited were the most threatening. 

João Mário had time and space to push the Dragons forward again, but missed, whereas Jens Hauge made it count again, after a beautiful work from Hogh, confirming the good moment of Bodø/Glimt, who reached the turnaround (2-1). 

Shortly after, Samu shot with power, forcing a good save before the break. The same 22 players came back from the break, but the number was quickly reduced to 21, as Isak Maatta was sent-off, for double yellow. With one more man on the pitch, Vítor Bruno removed Eustáquio and Gonçalo Borges and sent in Pepê and Galeno, but Hauge made it 3-1.

The blue and white number 13 was centimetres from scoring a great goal in the last play before Rodrigo Mora and Deniz Gül replaced Grujic and Iván Jaime. Even with five attacking players on the pitch, FC Porto was slow to create danger and the Nordics took advantage of every meter to scare Diogo Costa, who had to do his best to prevent another goal.

Pepê came very close to scoring twice in the following attack, André Franco replaced Francisco Moura and Deniz Gül responded in the best way to a corner-kick taken beautifully by Rodrigo Mora, making it 3-2. The final whistle of the Israeli referee signally the victory of the home team, the most effective and enlightened team during the 90 minutes.