Inter Don't Expect a Miracle at the Home of Giant Conquerors, Bodo/Glimt

BODO, WEDNESDAY – Bodo/Glimt are highly motivated and confident after defeating two major teams, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, in their last two Champions League matches. The minnows from Norway have advanced to the playoffs and are now on a mission to prevent last season's finalists, Inter Milan, from advancing to the round of 16.

The match at Aspmyra Stadium, Bodo, on Thursday (19/2/2026) starting at 03:00 WIB will take place in freezing air, with temperatures potentially reaching -8 degrees Celsius.

Bodo/Glimt has found the right formula to disrupt the gameplay of major teams like City and Atletico by cutting off the flow of the ball from the playmakers. In addition, they also force the game to spread wider to create space for counterattacks.

As a result, the team coached by Kjetil Knutsen defeated City, managed by football maestro Pep Guardiola, with a score of 3-1 in the freezing atmosphere of Aspmyra, which reached -9 degrees Celsius on January 20.

However, that counterattack is not the standard pattern of Bodo/Glimt. Patrick Berg and his teammates are also capable of playing aggressively under pressure, as demonstrated when they defeated Atletico 2-1 at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on January 28.

"Tomorrow is a different competition, just four days after our Serie A match against Juventus, and we know the importance of this match. We played quite well, but unfortunately we didn't qualify directly for the round of 16 and will have to go through the playoffs against a strong team that has given City and Atletico Madrid problems. They are a strong team, both because of the level they have reached and because of the growth of Norwegian football, with the national team having already qualified directly for the World Cup," said Inter coach Cristian Chivu in a press conference at Aspmyra Stadium in Bodø, Norway.

The two victories of Bodo/Glimt, against City and Atletico, relied on a key strategy to disrupt the flow of passes from the playmakers. This tactic began by assigning extra duties to strikers Kasper Hogh and Ole Didrik Blomberg to monitor the ball distribution of the opposing team. They tracked the horizontal movements of City's playmaker, Rodri, as well as Atletico's pivot midfielder, Koke.

We need to have a group of players who are eager to work hard, no matter how low the temperature is -10 degrees Celsius.

The Bodo/Glimt players' ability to adapt to different game plans poses a serious threat to Inter in their first Champions League playoff match on Thursday morning. The Inter players who will be the primary targets to be suppressed are either regista Piotr Zielinski or Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

In the last few matches, Zielinski has become Chivu's primary choice to distribute the ball from the front of the defensive trio. This change in role has been executed solidly by Zielinski. He is approaching his best performance.

"I prefer the mezzala, but lately the coach has been playing me as a regista, which is no problem for me. When he needs me in that position, I'll always be ready," Zielinski said in early January.

If the Polish midfielder is the primary target for Högh and Blomberg, Chivu could instruct Nicolo Barella to switch roles with Zielinski. They often play a double-pivot role, which makes the Nerazzurri's game much more dynamic. Barella, while more aggressive in attack, is capable of acting as a regista to fill in for Henrikh Mkhitaryan when injured.

If Chivu can find a solution to break the foundation of Knutsen's strategy, the chances of controlling the game and creating goal opportunities will be greater. In this match, Inter's attacking line will not be reinforced by Hakan Calhanoglu as he is still recovering from an injury.

His position is likely to be filled by Petar Sucic, who is capable of moving nimbly in tight spaces. Sucic's ability is crucial for breaking through the defense of Bodo/Glimt, which will be commanded by Jostein Gundersen and Odin Bjortuft, who are very strong in tackling and blocking the ball.

"This will clearly be the toughest test we have ever faced. We just need to do our best in matches like this. We only need to see whether we are ready or not. This will be an improvement from what we usually do," said Gundersen.

Bodo/Glimt's penchant for long balls and counter-pressing also poses a threat to Inter's defense. The potential for quick counter-attacks demands extra concentration from the defensive trio of Alessandro Bastoni, Yann Bisseck, and Manuel Akanji.

"Inter is a top European team with quality players. We must do everything in our own way, based on our current position. We need to have a group of players who are eager to work hard, regardless of the temperature being -10 degrees Celsius. We have successfully instilled that mentality and are at a good physical level," said Knutsen on the official UEFA website.

For Bastoni, who is under scrutiny for his excessive reaction after falling following contact with Juventus player Pierre Kalulu during the Italian League match, he stated that he remains focused on the upcoming game. The controversy in the Italian derby, which resulted in Kalulu receiving a second yellow card and a red card, has made Bastoni a target of attacks on social media.

He even received death threats. Bastoni publicly apologized for his overreaction in the Serie A match.

"From a personal standpoint, it does not affect me too much. We are already accustomed to and exposed to this type of media criticism. I am capable and skilled in handling this situation. I feel more pity for my wife and daughter who still do not understand. Receiving death threats is something unprecedented. I feel sorry for them and for referee La Penna who is in the same situation. They are not used to situations like this," said Bastoni.

"Mentally, I am very well. The same thing happened in the opposite case when facing Liverpool with (Florian) Wirtz (which resulted in a penalty) and no one was surprised. I really want to play on the field. I am not disturbed mentally or physically. I am ready to play," said Bastoni ahead of the match against Bodo/Glimt.

The mentality of Bastoni is crucial for maximizing performance in securing Inter's defense. The defensive instincts of Federico Dimarco and Luis Henrique on the flanks also need to be further awakened, especially during transitions. Dimarco, who possesses a strong attacking instinct, has so far been a key player in the creation of Inter's goals. He will also be a target to be tamed by Fredrik Sjovolt and Hakon Evjen.

Dimarco is very dangerous as he has already scored 14 assists and six goals in all competitions this season. He has become a key figure in breaking the deadlock, which will be greatly needed by Inter's two forwards, Marcus Thuram and team captain, Lautaro Martinez.

The next challenge for Inter is the extremely cold air temperature and the synthetic grass pitch that requires quick adaptation from the players. The synthetic grass pitch is very challenging as it has the potential to be slippery, causing the ball to slide faster and bounce higher. Inter players are adapting to such pitch conditions during training sessions, where snow accumulates at the edges of the field.

"The safety of the players has always been a primary concern because I want them all to be healthy. We need everyone in the competition with a very tight schedule. We are conducting the final training here to acclimatize to the weather and field conditions," said Chivu.

"Miracles are not guaranteed, but mentally, we will be ready to fight. They are ambitious and will give their best to make it difficult for us and win, but we will be ready to do the same. We will be prepared for 180 minutes, considering this is a two-legged match," said Chivu.

Regarding the cold weather and snowy conditions, Chivu emphasized that he is more wary of the capabilities of the Bodo/Glimt players who can adapt to different playing styles.

"We are not impressed by the snow. We see it every day from our training center. We are impressed by what Bodo has achieved and can achieve. They have spirit, quality, and many outstanding players. This team is truly developing, and we must play well and be ready to face anything," Chivu stated afterward.