bodø/glimt vs inter: Bodo/Glimt stun Inter Milan to move within sight of last 16
Bodo/Glimt produced one of the competition's most unexpected results on February 18, 2026 (ET), beating Inter Milan 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off. The Norwegian side, still in their domestic off-season, seized control in the second half to take a commanding advantage ahead of the return in Italy.
How the match unfolded
The home side struck first on 20 minutes when Ole Didrik Blomberg's clever build-up and Kasper Waarts Hogh's disguised backheel set up Sondre Fet to finish calmly on the club's artificial surface. Inter responded with sustained pressure: Matteo Darmian rattled the post and Nicolo Barella forced goalkeeper Nikita Haikin into a smart stop. Their perseverance paid out just before half-time when Carlos Augusto's header fell kindly for Francesco Pio Esposito, who turned and fired the equaliser.
The second half belonged to the hosts. Within three minutes of the restart Bodo countered with pace; Hogh laid the ball off for Jens Petter Hauge, who smashed a left-footed drive into the top corner to restore the lead. The momentum swung even further on 69 minutes when Blomberg delivered a low cross and Hogh slid in to tap home a third. Inter battered the woodwork twice more and had goalkeeper Yann Sommer to thank for keeping the deficit from growing earlier, but they were left to rue missed chances and a greater lack of rhythm than their pedigree might suggest.
Why this result matters for the tie
The 3-1 scoreline hands Bodo/Glimt a two-goal cushion and an away goal to take into the San Siro for the second leg. For a side that only recently defeated Manchester City and Atletico Madrid at home in this competition, the win underlines their capacity to unsettle the continent's elite when conditions favour them. Inter, despite leading Serie A comfortably and having recent deep runs in Europe, now face a runner-up return leg where they must balance attacking intent with caution; two goals for the Italians would flip the tie, but conceding another would leave them with a mountain to climb.
Additional context amplifies the achievement: this meeting is a rare Champions League knockout tie between clubs from Norway and Italy, and Inter have limited experience playing competitive fixtures in Norway in modern times. That unfamiliarity — with snow-tinged surroundings, an artificial pitch and a team operating on a lighter schedule — all played into Bodo's hands.
Tactics, freshness and the psychological edge
Bodo/Glimt’s setup relied on a low block that quickly turned into vertical transitions. The artificial surface suited their short passing and rapid restarts, and their physical freshness was evident as they sprinted from defence into attack with purpose. Inter’s compact approach generated chances but lacked the cutting edge needed to kill the tie when they had the ball — hitting the frame of the goal twice underlined a misfortune that matched a lack of sharpness.
The fixture schedule is likely a factor: Bodo finished their domestic season months ago and have used the downtime to prepare specifically for European ties, whereas Inter arrive after a congested run of matches. Such contrasts in match rhythm can be decisive in two-legged encounters. Beyond the tactical analysis, the psychological boost of a home triumph like this cannot be overstated; confidence and belief now travel with Bodo to Milan, while Inter will need to regroup quickly.
With the return leg set for next week in Italy, the tie is far from over, but Bodo/Glimt have handed themselves the kind of margin and momentum that make them very dangerous on a European stage.
