Bodø/Glimt 3–1 Inter Milan: Nerazzurri Stunned in Arctic Upset
Inter Milan’s Champions League hopes took a significant hit yesterday as they fell to a shock 3–1 defeat against Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt at the Aspmyra Stadion.
Despite entering the match as heavy favorites, the Serie A leaders struggled to adapt to the artificial turf and the biting cold of Northern Norway. The defeat in the first leg of this knockout play-off means Cristian Chivu’s men have a mountain to climb when they return to the San Siro next week.
Match Summary
The night started with Inter struggling to find their rhythm, and the hosts took full advantage in the 20th minute. Sondre Brunstad Fet finished off a slick team move after being teed up by the evening’s standout performer, Kasper Høgh.
Inter responded quickly, however. Ten minutes later, young striker Pio Esposito—continuing his impressive breakout season—swiveled brilliantly in the box to fire home the equalizer. The goal stood after a tense VAR check for a potential handball, giving the traveling fans hope of a comfortable evening.
The Second-Half Collapse
The second half belonged entirely to the Norwegians. Inter nearly took the lead when Lautaro Martínez hit the post just after the restart, but from there,
Bodø/Glimt took control:
61st Minute: Former AC Milan winger Jens Petter Hauge reminded the Nerazzurri of his quality, rifling a left-footed shot into the top corner to restore the lead.
64th Minute: Just minutes later, the defense was carved open again. Kasper Høgh, who had assisted the first two goals, got the goal his performance deserved by tapping into an empty net after a square ball from Blomberg.
Inter pushed late with the introduction of Piotr Zieliński and Luis Henrique, but the Bodø defense held firm to secure one of the biggest wins in their club’s history.
Looking Ahead
While a two-goal deficit is far from insurmountable at the San Siro, Inter looked uncharacteristically vulnerable at the back. With AC Milan drawing 1–1 with Como yesterday, Inter remains seven points clear in the domestic title race, but their European pedigree is now under serious scrutiny.
The second leg takes place next Tuesday, February 24th, where Inter will need a perfect performance to avoid a premature exit from the competition.
Would you like me to create a “Tactical Analysis” section for this post, or perhaps a preview for the second leg in Milan?
