The in-form Inter Milan are aiming to avoid an upset in the Arctic Circle on Wednesday night, as a buoyant Bodø/Glimt welcome the Italian giants to Norway.
Bodø’s modern rise means this is their first meeting with the Nerazzurri, and very few would’ve expected Kjetil Knutsen’s side to give themselves the chance of setting up this fixture with three league phase games remaining.
However, a remarkable conclusion to the first phase of the Champions League saw Bodø secure a playoff spot and leave their supporters with memories that will be passed down through generations. The Norwegians claimed back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Atlético Madrid to prolong their maiden voyage in the seas of Europe’s elite.
Inter, for periods, have been regarded among the continent’s major players. The three-time winners of this competition are two-time beaten finalists this decade, and their current run of form suggests they’re primed for another deep continental run.
Cristian Chivu’s side have won six on the bounce in all competitions, and they travel to the piercing Aspmyra off the back of a dramatic 3–2 victory over Juventus at the weekend to tighten their grip on the Serie A title race.
What Time Does Bodø/Glimt vs. Inter Kick Off?
- Location: Bodø, Norway
- Stadium: Aspmyra Stadion
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 18
- Kick-off Time: 8 p.m. GMT / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
- Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER)
- VAR: Christian Dingert (GER)
Bodø/Glimt vs. Inter Head-to-Head Record
This is the first competitive meeting between Bodø/Glimt and Inter.
Current Form (All Competitions, Last Five Games)
| Bodø/Glimt (WWWWD) | Inter (WWWWW) |
|---|---|
| Atlético Madrid 1–2 Bodø/Glimt | Inter 3–2 Juventus |
| Bodø/Glimt 3–1 Man City | Sassuolo 0–5 Inter |
| Bodø/Glimt 4–1 Diósgyör | Inter 2–1 Torino |
| Groningen 0–4 Bodø/Glimt | Cremonese 0–2 Inter |
| Borussia Dortmund 2–2 Bodø/Glimt | Borussia Dortmund 0–2 Inter |
How to Watch Bodø/Glimt vs. Inter on TV, Live Stream
| Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | TNT Sports 1, discovery+, discovery+ App |
| United States | Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App |
| Canada | DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada |
| Mexico | FOX One |
Bodø/Glimt Team News
The hosts haven’t played a competitive fixture since beating Atlético Madrid, and Knutsen’s squad seems to be in a good place ahead of this playoff tie and the start of their domestic campaign next month.
There’s little to note on the injury front, but captain Patrick Berg will miss the return leg if he picks up a booking on Wednesday night.
Jens Petter Hauge once represented Inter’s great city rivals, AC Milan, but failed to make the grade in Italy. However, he’s been the star of Bodø’s Champions League campaign so far, while striker Kasper Høgh, after a profligate start to the league phase, scored against Man City and Atléti.
Bodø/Glimt Predicted Lineup vs. Inter
Bodø/Glimt predicted lineup vs. Inter (4-3-3): Haikin; Sjøvold, Nielsen Bjørtuft, Bjørkan; Evjen, Berg, Fet; Blomberg, Høgh, Hauge.
Inter Team News
Alessandro Bastoni has come under heavy scrutiny for his role in Pierre Kalulu’s erroneous sending off in a thrilling Derby d’Italia on Saturday night. However, the Italian has said he’s in the right headspace for Wednesday’s game and is unlikely to drop out of Chivu’s team, given his importance.
Inter are likely to be without Denzel Dumfries due to an ankle injury, though. The Dutchman was superb during the latter stages of the competition last season, but Inter have relied on him less this term.
The visitors are otherwise healthy, and we should expect some rotation from Chivu in the Arctic Circle. Experienced heads such as Francesco Acerbi, Matteo Darmian and Hakan Çalhanoğlu could come into the Inter team.
Inter Predicted Lineup vs. Bodø/Glimt
Inter predicted lineup vs. Bodø/Glimt (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Çalhanoğlu, Sučić, Dimarco; Martínez, Esposito.
Bodø/Glimt vs. Inter Score Prediction
Having seen Man City succumb last month, Inter will know that this will be far from a walk in the park. Bodø’s frosty temperatures and unfamiliar playing surface mean it often takes more than 90 minutes to acclimatize.
However, this Inter team just keep on finding ways. Whether through aerial dominance, Federico Dimarco’s left boot, or pinpoint strikes from range, Chivu’s side are discovering a myriad avenues that ultimately lead to attacking success.
Plus, their Champions League knowhow will come into play. This is a wily, experienced squad that has seen it all, and although Bodø’s quick possession game could trouble them initially, expect the visitors to grow as the game wears on before eventually taking full control of this playoff tie.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Bodo/Glimt vs. Inter Milan: Preview, Predictions and Lineups.
