In a thrilling first-leg encounter of the Champions League play-offs, Bodo/Glimt continued their fairy-tale run by defeating Inter Milan 3-1 at the Aspmyra Stadion.
Despite Inter’s early pressure, the home side exploited a second-half collapse from the Italians to take a significant advantage to the San Siro.
Kasper Høgh was the undisputed star of the night, involved in every goal for the Norwegian champions, while Inter’s defense struggled to cope with the intensity of the Arctic conditions and Bodo’s clinical transitions.
Bodo/Glimt Player Ratings
Nikita Haikin (6): The goalkeeper had a relatively quiet evening. While he made the routine saves expected of him, he could have perhaps reacted quicker for Inter’s opening goal. However, he remained composed throughout the match.
Fredrik Sjøvold (6.5): A solid performance on the flank. He maintained his discipline and contributed to the build-up play, ensuring Inter’s wingers had little room to breathe.
Odin Bjørtuft (6): Held the line well for the most part, though he was occasionally caught out by the movement of Lautaro and Esposito. He recovered well in the second half.
Jostein Gundersen (7): A commanding presence in the heart of the defense. Gundersen was vital in neutralizing Inter’s aerial threat and clearing dangerous crosses during the visitors’ periods of dominance.
Fredrik Bjørkan (7): Showed great energy on the left. His ability to transition from defense to attack helped stretch the Inter backline and provided a constant outlet for his midfielders.
Håkon Evjen (6.5): Worked tirelessly in the engine room. He played a key role in the pressing game that eventually wore down the Inter midfield in the latter stages.
Patrick Berg (7): The captain’s experience was evident. He anchored the midfield perfectly, dictating the tempo and breaking up play before it could reach the Bodo penalty area.
Sondre Fet (7.5): A high-impact performance. Fet’s ability to drive forward into half-spaces was rewarded with the opening goal, and his work rate was essential to Bodo’s success.
Ole Didrik Blomberg (7): Provided the width and pace that troubled Inter all night. His unselfish play to set up Høgh for the third goal was a highlight of his creative display.
Kasper Høgh (9): The Man of the Match. The Danish striker was sensational, providing two assists before finishing a move himself to put the game to bed. He was a constant nightmare for the Inter defenders.
Jens Petter Hauge (7.5): A constant threat on the wing. His clinical finish for the second goal reminded everyone of his quality, and his dribbling kept the Inter defense on their heels.
Coach: Kjetil Knutsen (8)
Knutsen’s tactical masterclass continues. After adding Inter to a list of scalps that includes Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, he proved once again that his side can compete with Europe’s elite through organization and belief.
Inter Milan Player Ratings
Yann Sommer (5.5): It was a difficult night for the veteran. He was left exposed by his defense for the goals and couldn’t produce the “miracle” save needed to shift the momentum.
Manuel Akanji (5.5): A night to forget for the defender. He struggled with the pace of the Bodo attackers and was frequently caught out of position during the second-half collapse.
Francesco Acerbi (5.5): Looked uncharacteristically shaky. While he tried to organize the back three, he was often bypassed by the quick interplay of the Norwegian forwards.
Alessandro Bastoni (6): Although he struggled defensively at times, he was one of the few players trying to initiate play from the back, showing more urgency than his defensive partners.
Matteo Darmian (7): One of the few bright spots for Inter. He was industrious on the wing and provided a steady presence before being substituted as Chivu looked for more attacking impetus.
Petar Sucic (6.5): Showed flashes of quality and tried to link the midfield to the attack, but he faded as the game became more physical and the conditions worsened.
Nicolo Barella (7): Stepping into the deep-lying playmaker role, Barella was Inter’s best performer. He won his battles and created several openings, but his efforts weren’t matched by those around him.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (6): A quiet game by his standards. He struggled to find the killer pass and was eventually replaced by Zielinski as Inter searched for a way back into the game.
Carlos Augusto (6): Deputizing for Dimarco, he provided the assist for Inter’s goal but lacked the consistent delivery and “X-factor” that the regular starter usually provides.
Lautaro Martinez (6.5): He worked hard and looked dangerous in the first half, but his night ended prematurely with an injury that will worry the Nerazzurri faithful.
Francesco Pio Esposito (7): The young striker took his goal well and showed good movement. He proved to be a handful for the Bodo defense during Inter’s better spells.
Coach: Cristian Chivu (5)
Chivu’s rotation and substitutions will be heavily scrutinized. Prioritizing the Scudetto over this tie seemed to backfire, as the team lacked its usual rhythm and failed to adapt to Bodo’s second-half surge.