bodø/glimt vs inter: Bodo/Glimt 3-1 leaves Inter with uphill second leg
On February 18, 2026 (ET), Bodo/Glimt produced a second-half surge to beat Inter Milan 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie, leaving the Italian side facing an uncomfortable trip north for the return. The Norwegian side, still in off-season, took advantage of an artificial pitch and rare freshness to claim a famous win.
How the game unfolded
Bodo/Glimt struck first after 20 minutes when Kasper Waarts Høgh backheeled a pass into the path of Sondre Fet, who finished smartly on the club’s artificial surface. Inter responded strongly and came close through Matteo Darmian, who hit the post, and Nicolo Barella, whose effort was saved by goalkeeper Nikita Haikin. The visitors’ persistence eventually paid off when Carlos Augusto’s header from a Barella cross was blocked, allowing Francesco Pio Esposito to turn and fire home to level the match.
The momentum, however, swung decisively after the interval. On 61 minutes Bodo countered swiftly: Høgh set up Jens Petter Hauge on the left and Hauge smashed a left-footed drive into the top corner. Barely minutes later Ole Didrik Blomberg’s square ball found Høgh, who tapped home to make it 3-1 and send the home crowd into raptures. Inter had further chances—Lautaro Martínez struck the post and goalkeeper Yann Sommer had to tip a Høgh effort over—but could not find a way back into the contest.
Context and significance
The result is another chapter in a remarkable run for the Norwegian side, who earlier this season got results against top European opponents. Playing in the Arctic circle on an artificial surface often unfamiliar to visiting teams gave the hosts a clear edge, and the fact Bodo are in their domestic off-season appeared to help rather than hinder them. The lighter schedule allowed extended preparation and recovery, while Inter’s demanding fixture list—dozens of matches in recent weeks—may have contributed to visible fatigue.
Inter arrive in Norway as one of Europe’s established powers—comfortable at the top of their domestic league and recent finalists in the Champions League—but were made to look ordinary for long spells. The loss hands Bodo a valuable three-goal cushion heading to Milan, where the visitors will need a strong showing to overturn the deficit. For Bodo, the win offers not only progress in the tie but a statement about their capacity to compete at the highest level in Europe.
Looking ahead to the second leg
Inter will need to regroup quickly. The return fixture places pressure on their attack to convert chances and on their defence to avoid conceding an away goal that would dramatically increase the challenge of progression. Bodo/Glimt’s plan will likely be to defend resolutely and exploit counterattacks and set-piece moments, using the confidence from this victory to manage the atmosphere and intensity in Milan.
Historically the clubs have limited meetings, and this tie now sits as one of the more eye-catching European encounters of the season. With a three-goal cushion, Bodo/Glimt are within touching distance of the Champions League last 16, but nothing is decided until the final whistle in the second leg. Expect a frenzied response from Inter and a nervy return for the Norwegian visitors as both clubs prepare for the decisive night in the coming weeks.
