Inter Milan – Bodo/Glimt

How big is Bodø/Glimt really up to these days? A draw in Dortmund, before Manchester City and Atletico Madrid got their passports stamped, and now they can advance in the Champions League at the expense of Inter Milan itself. Last year's finalist. Have we ever experienced anything like this?

The club beat Sampdoria 3-2 in 1994, but no one talks about it anymore in Bodø. And even though both Viking and Tromsø have beaten Chelsea, it doesn't compare. Nor does Brann's victory over PSV in 1996, or Kongsvinger, Vålerenga and Molde who drew against Juventus, Besiktas and Mallorca respectively.

The only thing that can be compared to what Kjetil Knutsen's boys are doing now is what Nils Arne Eggen did with his Rosenborg a good 30 years ago. Dortmund were beaten 0-3, Real Madrid had to go home from Lerkendal with 2-0 and AC Milan were beaten 1-2, at home at San Siro, after Harald Brattbakk and Vegard Heggem stood for the Norwegian football moments of all time. At least according to Eggen himself.

But is it possible that we have more to look forward to, or does it stop here?

Inter Milan – down, but not out.

Inter, who have been to two of the last three Champions League finals, are too experienced to give up now. They are beaten, but they are not out, and they know that all it takes is 2-0. And at home, at the Stadio Guizeppe Meazza, bigger teams than Bodø/Glimt have gone home with their tails between their legs.

They can also draw inspiration from the loss in Bodø. They had the most ball, they had the highest xG and they had the most shots. It doesn't help much when the lights on the scoreboard show 3-1 at the end of the game, but they know that this game is alive and well.

Esposito got one goal in Bodø, and even though Martinez is injured, they have Thuram, Zielinski and several other offensive players who will chase goals from start to finish. Because Inter can't give up at 1-0, and they probably won't give up at 2-0 either. Only at 3-0 can they take their foot off the gas pedal.

They average 49 attacks, and a whopping 17 goal chances, per match in the Champions League. Only PSG, Real Madrid and Liverpool average more finishes. Now they average "only" five corners per match in the CL, but it is part of their history that they have faced teams like Dortmund, Arsenal, Liverpool and Atlético Madrid. At home in Serie A, no one comes close when it comes to corner production, where they reign supreme at the top with their 6.85 per match.

And against a Bodø that will probably give up minimal space in front of their own goal, wing play will be more important than ever. And it helps that Inter is one of the teams that goes for the most crosses. Only Olympiacos and Atletico Madrid cross more often. The Italians have tried 174 crosses in their 9 matches, and there is a good chance that we will get many more here.

Bodø/Glimt – is the time of miracles over?

You can say a lot about Bodø/Glimt, but for me it's as much about how they do it as what they actually achieve. Because they succeed in all areas, without compromising what they believe in. And that makes it all the more impressive.

Take the last game, against Inter Milan, for example. They are leading 3-1, and Haikin has the ball. A star gallery of dimensions stands high in the field, ready to chase the ball carrier like hungry wolves. Yet they create triangles, play on marked players, make passes in spaces where the risk is high and they get out of their own zone with the ball at their feet.

But it doesn't stop there, because offensively they move with both pace and precision, the technical details are at an international level and in the recovery phase they show that they are also capable of getting dirt under their nails. Kjetil Knutsen has followed in the footsteps of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, and has made Total Football his own. And he has got the players on the team. Because the indomitable belief in one's own skills, and loyalty to the coach's philosophy, can move mountains. Fortunately.

Because the task is actually colossal. Now Inter has indeed lost at home to both Arsenal and Liverpool, but in Serie A they are 8-1-1 in the last ten home games. Bodø/Glimt must be prepared to bleed, if they are to avoid dying. But at the same time we know that they also want to appear as we know them. And this time that type of football could be their path.

Because they will have to take the tenacious sacrifice they have shown so far, if this is to work. Only Pafos and Club Brugge have succeeded in more blocks/clearances, and we know Bodø/Glimt is the team that gives away the most corners of all teams in the Champions League, with their 7.33 per game. So they have succeeded in getting the ball out of the dangerous zone more often than most, but will they be able to withstand the sustained pressure from one of the world's best football teams?

Conclusion – every minute counts

Make no mistake about where my heart lies, but I can't be optimistic. Of course, there is a certain risk that I will make the same mistake as Christian Chivu, Diego Simeone, Pep Guardiola and Niko Kovac by underestimating the Bodo team, but can you stand against Inter for 90 minutes at the Stadio Guizeppe Meazza? If not, then you have to attack. Take the bull by the horns. Like they did away against Atlético Madrid. And then the question arises; can they shock again?

I've seen too much of Bodø to dare to play against them. But I'd be surprised if the match doesn't turn out to be quite monotonous; Inter will have most of the ball, and Inter will create most of the chances. Also, don't ignore the fact that Bodø/Glimt will bite the bullet, knowing that every minute that passes is one minute closer to advancement. And maybe they'll have to dare to take a free kick for the team?

Referee Alejandro José Hernández Hernández doesn't have much experience in the Champions League, as he only has eight matches in total, three of which are from this season. However, he has refereed 255 matches in La Liga, where he averages 26.55 free kicks and 5.43 yellow cards per match.

If we hit the expected match picture, there is also a good chance that we will hit our betting suggestions. And we have boiled it all down to the following bets;

There must be goals. Everything else will be a big surprise.

Inter have no choice. If they win 2-0, they have secured extra time. If they win 3-0, they are through. But can Bodø/Glimt sneak a goal as Inter takes more and more risks? And what does Bodø do if Inter gets their 3-0 lead? Then they have nothing to lose by trying. In that case, the following bets are worth considering;

Champions League at 21:00: Inter – Bodø/Glimt: Over 3.5 goals (1.81)

The starting point suggests plenty of corners.

We have mentioned Inter's ability to create corners. And argued why wing play could be the preferred way in for the home team. In addition, we should not forget that Bodø/Glimt is the team that gives away the most corners of all the teams in the Champions League. But as with the goals, the bookmakers have also set a high bar on corners. But without Martinez, the home team may quickly need even more attacks to score the necessary goals. And they need to attack, not only from the start, but also after the first goal is eventually scored. And therefore there is much to say that this is a good game;

Champions League at 21:00: Inter – Bodø/Glimt: Over 7.5 corners to Inter (1.70)

All is fair in love and war.

As mentioned; with every passing minute, the away team is one step closer to advancing. And they have to take advantage of it. Maybe they have to make a tackle that gives the home team a free kick, rather than getting past, and maybe they have to spend a little extra time on set pieces. Familiar tricks, which the referee will probably be aware of from the start.

In addition, Patrick Berg and the rest of the team are good at recovering, so it will not surprise anyone that it will be physical and close in front of the away team's 16-meter box. And for that reason the following play looks good;

Champions League at 21:00: Inter – Bodø/Glimt: Over 1.5 goals to Bodø/Glimt (1.60)

Champions League at 21:00: Inter – Bodø/Glimt: Bodø/Glimt over 15.5 duels (1.78)

Champions League at 21:00: Inter – Bodø/Glimt: Bodø/Glimt will create over 11.5 free kicks (1.91)

Remember that you can find betting suggestions from the other matches in the Champions League on our odds list .