A dream lives on: Bodo defeat Inter in icy Norway

Whoever goes to the icy Norway and plays against Bodo/Glimt on the artificial grass is having trouble adjusting to the weather/pitch conditions. Some manage to even win over there, but some European giants went and lost. Just ask Pep Guardiola and his Manchester city (3-1) or Inter Milan. Three time Champions League winners came to Norway in the first leg of the playoff round and experienced City‘s fate: Bodo/Glimt – Inter Milan 3-1. Apart from Qarabaq, Bodo is the second biggest surprise in this year‘s addition of UEFA‘s most popular competition, but unlike the Azerbaijan team, the Norwegians are much stronger and resilient team which proved their quality numerous times. After all, they know how to win away from their artificial turf. When they needed a win in order to advance, they defeated Atletico in Madrid and on Wednesday they showed their toughness and quality and surprised the Champions League semifinalist, who will have to put a perfect display in the second leg in order to nullify the two goal deficit.

Inter was the team which excels in the knockout matches in Europe. Excluding the final, the Italian team won 10 and lost just one of their last 15 knockout matches in Europe’s top competition. Inter came to Norway in excellent form, with six consecutive wins in all competition and with at least two goals scored per game. But on Wednesday night, they missed some chances early on, hit the crossbar twice and Bodo used all those misses like they were some much stronger and experienced team and scored three goals for the win.

Inter had the initiative at the beginning and created its first chance after just five minutes. Sucic played a long ball to Lautaro Martinez who crossed with his left foot, but Gundersen deflected the ball into a corner. Soon things turned Bodo‘s way and in the 20th minute Hogh found Fet with a splendid backheel and the Bodo midifelder beat Sommer for a surprise lead. Inter woke up and had a chance through Darmian in the 26th minute, but Inter‘s player hit the first post of the day. Barella should have shot better two minutes later, but only managed to hit the ball straight at the Bodo keeper. The only goal for the visitors came in the 30th minute, when Esposito picked up a rebound and equalized.

Inter started the second half with another shot at the post instead of a goal and the hosts punished them after hour of play. Hogh found space in the attacking midfield and played it out for the former AC Milan player Jens Petter Hauge who fired a left-footed shot past Sommer under the crossbar for the lead. But Bodo players didn‘t stop there. Just two minutes later, they ended the game with a third goal. A brilliant ball into the box from Fet found Blomberg, who unselfishly passed it to Hogh and the man of the match scored his first goal of the game, after assisting with the other two goals. Inter‘s manager Cristian Chivu made a series of substitutions but all they did was to create two half-chances. Not enough to soften the blow. Inter will have some serious business in the rematch in Milan.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS

First leg

Tuesday

Galatasaray - Juventus 5-2 (1-2)

/Sara 15, Lang 49, 75, Sanchez 60, Boey 86 - Koopmeiners 16, 32/

Benfica - Real Madrid 0-1 (0-0)

/Vinicius 50/

Dortmund - Atalanta 2-0 (2-0)

/Guirassy 3, Beier 42/

Monaco - PSG 2-3 (2-2)

/Balogun 1, 18 - Doue 29, 67, Hakimi 41/

Wednesday

Qarabag - Newcastle 1-6 (0-5)

/Jafarguliyev 54 - Gordon 3, 32(p), 33, 45+1(p), Thiaw 8, Murphy 72/

Bodo - Inter 3-1 (1-1)

/Fet 20, Hauge 61, Hogh 64 - Esposito 30/

Club Brugge - Atl.Madrid 3-3 (0-2)

/Onyedika 51, Tresoldi 60, Tzolis 89 - /Alvarez 8(p), Lookman 45+4, Ordonez 79(og)/

Olympiakos - Leverkusen 0-2 (0-0)

/Schick 60, 63/