When Matthew Clarke watched Bodo Glimt knock Celtic out of Europe in February, the prospect of facing the Norwegian champions five months later didn’t cross his mind.
Clarke, a Rangers fan who was once on the Ibrox club’s books, was watching on TV as the Hoops fell to a shock 3-1 defeat at Parkhead before also losing 2-0 in Norway.
But now the Linfield defender, who captained the side in last week’s dramatic 2-1 aggregate win over The New Saints, is in Bodo’s line of fire at Windsor Park.
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“Celtic were probably unlucky not to get a draw in the home leg, but 5-1 over two legs doesn’t tell any lies,” said Clarke ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League clash in Belfast.
“To put a team like Celtic out and beat them home and away is unreal, so we know exactly the quality they have.”
Bodo also recorded a stunning 6-1 home win over Roma in the group stages of last season’s Europa Conference League before losing to the Italian giants in the quarter-finals.
Roma, managed by Jose Mourinho, went on to beat Feyenoord in the final and lift the club's first ever major European trophy.
“We’re not stupid and we know the quality these teams have,” said Clarke. “It’s going to be a big ask but it’s something that excites you as a player.
“You want to play against these top clubs and test yourself against some of the top players in other European leagues. Hopefully we can sneak a result.”
Linfield are unlikely to be caught cold by Bodo having already been blindsided by Rosenborg three years ago. They know all too well the threat posed by Norwegian champions.
Rosenborg won 2-0 at Windsor Park and ran out 4-0 victors at the Lerkendal Stadium en route to a 6-0 aggregate win in the Champions League in 2019.
Asked for his toughest European opponents in nine years at Linfield, Clarke referenced Rosenborg and also Celtic who beat the Blues 6-0 over two legs in the Champions League in 2017.
“I think we were a wee bit taken aback with just how good Rosenborg were,” he said. “They beat us here and also beat us out there comfortably.
“The Celtic game was only 2-0 here and we had a couple of chances but at Parkhead it was a different story. The quality Celtic had then under Brendan Rodgers was unbelievable.
“Going into the Champions League you know you’re not going to play bad opposition, but these are the games you want to play in, no doubt about it.”
Clarke, who joined Linfield from Rangers in 2013, was “honoured” to don the captain's armband, with regular club captain Jamie Mulgrew starting on the bench, in last week’s 2-1 win over TNS.
The Blues looked to be exiting the competition after a 1-0 defeat in Wales, but Mulgrew rifled home a stoppage time equaliser at Windsor Park before Ethan Devine won it with a close range finish in extra-time.
“It was extra special to captain this club in the Champions League and it’s something that can never be taken away from me,” said Clarke.
“It was nice for the manager to put his trust in me with Jamie on the bench and Jimmy (Callacher) not playing. To get a result to go with it was brilliant The boys showed incredible character.”
On Mulgrew's stunning equaliser, a rapier-like shot into the top corner, Clarke joked: "I’ve been here 10 years and I’ve never seen him hit a ball like that! It actually nearly took my head off.
"I had to duck and I looked between my legs and saw it hit the back of the net. It was unbelievable.
“That’s what Jamie is all about, he’s the skipper, he leads by example and he’s been an unbelievable servant to this club. I was so happy to see it go in for him."
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