Inter Milan Must Overturn 3–1 Deficit at San Siro in Champions League Playoff Second Leg

Inter Milan return to San Siro to attempt a comeback in the champions league playoff after surrendering a 3–1 deficit in the first leg. The outcome of Tuesday night’s second leg will decide which side advances to the round of 16.

Development details: Champions League tie facts

Inter trail Bodø/Glimt by three goals following last week’s surprise result on the road, when Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Høgh struck in quick succession around the hour mark to overturn an early Francesco Pio Esposito strike. The first leg took place on a synthetic surface at Aspmyra Stadion, where the visitors used favorable conditions and momentum to build a 3–1 advantage.

With that scoreline, Inter need a win by a margin of at least three goals to progress without extra time. Cristian Chivu’s side head into the second leg buoyed by a 2–0 victory at Lecce on the weekend, having recovered from the Arctic upset in domestic action. The club sits at the top of Serie A and is reported to be ten points clear in the standings, underlining the contrast between their domestic dominance and recent continental struggles.

Squad news will shape the approach. Inter captain Lautaro Martínez suffered a calf injury in the first leg and will be unavailable for the home return; Marcus Thuram is expected to partner Pio Esposito in attack. Federico Dimarco, unused at Aspmyra, is confirmed to start at San Siro. Piotr Zieliński is slated to operate at the base of midfield in the absence of Hakan Çalhanoğlu, while Nicolo Barella returns to the midfield after missing the weekend match.

Context and escalation

Bodø/Glimt’s win in the first meeting was notable for several reasons. It marked the first time a Norwegian side beat Italian opposition in a major European competition since 1996 and left the Norwegian side on the brink of becoming the first from their country to progress from a knockout stage tie in the Champions League since the 1987/88 season. Their first-leg performance was enhanced by the synthetic pitch and supportive home conditions, factors that unsettled Inter.

Knutsen’s team arrive with confidence from recent continental outings, having achieved high-profile victories in the competition and claimed wins at challenging venues in recent matches. Inter, meanwhile, have demonstrated strong home form across competitions, winning their last three home fixtures by an aggregate 11-4 and keeping clean sheets in a large share of recent UEFA home triumphs. What makes this notable is the gulf between Inter’s domestic superiority and their uneven Champions League record, which includes multiple recent defeats on home soil.

Immediate impact

The immediate consequence of the first-leg result is tactical urgency for Inter. Facing elimination, Chivu’s side must balance attacking intent with defensive solidity; conceding at San Siro would deepen their deficit, while scoring multiple goals is imperative to force extra time or overturn the tie. Bodø/Glimt have shown they can exploit space and favorable conditions to score quickly, placing pressure on Inter’s back line to prevent a repeat performance.

For personnel, Lautaro Martínez’s absence forces a reshuffle up front and alters how Inter will build possession. The return of Barella and the deployment of Zieliński at the base of midfield are concrete adjustments intended to restore control. For Bodø/Glimt, the task is to protect a three-goal cushion and use the defensive compactness that produced success in the first leg.

Forward outlook

The decisive milestone is Tuesday night’s kickoff at San Siro, after which the tie will either be settled in regulation or, should Inter narrow the gap and Bodø/Glimt respond, potentially extend into extra time. No further rounds are scheduled for this fixture beyond the immediate second leg; the winner will proceed to the round of 16. Team selections announced ahead of kickoff, in combination with the match result, will determine which club continues in Europe and which exits at the playoff stage.

Officials and club staff will finalize lineups prior to kickoff, and both sides have signaled clear tactical plans based on recent performances and available personnel. The champions league tie therefore arrives as a high-stakes test of Inter’s ability to translate domestic form into continental success and of Bodø/Glimt’s capacity to defend a historic lead under pressure.