Bodo/Glimt 3 Inter Milan 1
What a dream first leg for Bodo/Glimt. If Bodo/Glimt were to have any chance of going through in this tie they had to win the first leg comfortably at home and that’s exactly what they did. Bodo started the stronger side in Norway and opened the scoring through Sondre Brunstad Fet who capped off a brilliant team move to put Bodo/Glimt in the lead. It didn’t take long for Inter to equalise however just ten minutes later through Pio Esposito who was able to quickly turnaround and fire home from close-range to bring the sides level in the 30th minute. Inter looked the stronger side for the remainder of the half but couldn’t find that second goal to take the lead before half-time. Bodo/Glimt came flying out of the traps after half-time and in the 61st minute Jens Petter Hauge fired past Sommer at the near post to put Bodo 2-1 up on the night, then just three minutes later after unselfish play from Ole Blomberg Kasper Waarts Hogh tapped it in to give Bodo/Glimt an unlikely 3-1 advantage in Norway. Inter huffed and puffed but were unable to get a much needed second goal to bring back to the San Siro next week, what a result for Bodo/Glimt.
A much deserved lead for Bodo/Glimt in Norway. This game had banana skin written all over it for Inter but I was mightily impressed with just how well Bodo/Glimt played today, they’ve already beaten Man city at this stadium last month and staged an unbelievable comeback against Atletico Madrid just to get to the playoff round in the first place and they played their hearts out tonight. Some of the football they were playing was mesmerising especially for the first goal with Kasper Waarts Hogh backheeling the ball into Sondre Brunstad Fet who finished calmly past Sommer to give Bodo the lead. You can look at the conditions the match was played in with the temperature at -4 degrees in Norway and being played on artificial grass as an advantage for Bodo/Glimt but they still had to make that advantage work and that’s exactly what they did to Inter tonight.
Did Cristian Chivu underestimate Bodo/Glimt? I’ve got to admit I was surprised with some of the selections Chivu made tonight, the wing-backs especially shocked me with Darmian and Augusto on both flanks offering very little throughout the 90 minutes, going with Mkhitaryan in midfield as well who’s legs were already gone last year was puzzling and makes me think that Chivu heavily under-estimated Bodo/Glimt tonight. The lack of pace all around the team was a real problem when they were trying to break on Bodo with both wing-backs lacking in attacking quality all night as Federico Dimarco sat on the bench for the whole night. They struggled to break down Bodo/Glimt all night and have it all to do next week at the San Siro to comeback from two goals down.
A disastrous week in the Champions League for Italian football. This week has been a nightmare for every single Italian club in the Champions League as Atalanta, Juventus and Inter slumped to first leg defeats with each one losing by at least two goals with Juventus losing by three in Turkey on Tuesday. Napoli are already out of the competition finishing 30th in the Champions League table so these are the only teams left representing the Serie A in Europe’s most elite competition. Inter have been the beacon of light for Serie A in the Champions League over the past few seasons reaching the final in 2023 and 2025 but the rest of teams have been so poor in the competition recently, it would almost be unthinkable that not one single Italian club could make it to the Round Of 16 in the Champions League but that’s a very real possibility after this weeks results, they have it all to do next week.
Inter have to turn this around next week. It’s not all doom and gloom for Inter as Bodo/Glimt’s away record in Europe hasn’t been great only beating Atletico Madrid away from home in the group phase of the Champions League this season so there is hope for Inter. I do think Inter will look like a completely different team with proper wing-backs in the team and Dimarco simply has to start next week, Dumfries is apparently back in training after a long-term injury and that could be a massive boost if he can play any part at all in next weeks game, Lautaro went off in the 60th minute with what looked like an injury but I’m not sure if that’s going to be serious or not, Inter do have plenty of depth up front with Thuram and Bonny both on the bench tonight so they can replace Lautaro if he’s out for next week. Inter have to start strong next week if they want any chance of going through, I’m looking forward to seeing what should be a great game next week at San Siro.