Bodo Glimt Edge Inter 3-1 As Hogh Stars In Champions League Playoff

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Bodo/Glimt moved to the brink of a Champions League round of 16 place after a 3-1 victory over Inter, giving Kjetil Knutsen’s team a strong first-leg advantage at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. Kasper Hogh produced a standout display with two assists and a goal against the beaten 2025 finalists.

The Norwegian champions are now 90 minutes away from a famous aggregate success when the tie resumes next Tuesday. Inter must overturn a two-goal deficit at home, after failing to match Bodo/Glimt’s clinical finishing despite creating more attempts on Nikita Haikin’s goal across the match.

Inter actually began on the front foot and almost struck back immediately after falling behind. Matteo Darmian hit the post with a powerful effort, then Nicolo Barella saw a gentle header gathered by Haikin. Lautaro Martinez later clipped the woodwork just 45 seconds after the second half restarted.

Bodo/Glimt, however, struck first after 20 minutes with a move that exposed Inter’s defence. Kasper Hogh produced a clever backheel into the penalty area for Sondre Fet, who advanced beyond the back line and calmly slotted past Yann Sommer’s outstretched right arm to open the scoring in Milan.

Cristian Chivu’s side levelled on the half-hour after sustained pressure on the visitors’ box. Barella swung in a cross from the right, which Carlos Augusto attacked aggressively. His initial strike was blocked, yet the rebound dropped for Francesco Pio Esposito, who reacted fastest and finished from close range.

The match then turned decisively after the hour, as Bodo/Glimt punished Inter twice in three minutes. On 61 minutes, Hogh slipped a precise pass into space for Jens Petter Hauge, who drove a fierce left-footed shot inside Sommer’s near post to restore the Norwegian team’s advantage.

Shortly afterwards, Bodo/Glimt extended the lead with a swift counter that stunned the hosts. Fet lofted a measured ball over Inter’s defensive line for Ole Didrik Blomberg, who raced clear and squared unselfishly. Hogh arrived in stride and rolled the ball into an empty net for a 3-1 cushion.

Champions League play-off: Bodo/Glimt, Hogh and Hauge hit historic marks

Despite trailing Inter by six points and 13 positions from the league phase rankings, Bodo/Glimt secured a landmark success. The result made them the first Norwegian club to win three consecutive matches in European Cup or Champions League history, underlining their growing impact in continental competition this season.

Hogh’s influence placed the forward in elite company at this stage of the tournament. Hogh became only the second player to be directly involved in three goals in a Champions League knockout match against Inter, after Desire Doue managed two goals and one assist for Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s final.

Hauge also reached a notable personal milestone with his strike against Inter. The winger is now the third player to score five goals in a single Champions League campaign for a Norwegian side. Hauge joins John Carew in 1999-00 and Frode Johnsen in 2000-01, who both achieved that mark for Rosenborg.

The underlying numbers highlighted how hard Bodo/Glimt had to work to establish their lead. Inter registered 15 shots for an expected goals figure of 1.35 against Haikin, while Bodo/Glimt produced eight attempts worth 1.17 xG. The visitors made their chances count, leaving Inter under pressure before the return leg.