Inter Milan Eliminated from Champions League: What Went Wrong

February 26, 2026 | 10:51 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Inter Milan’s 2025-26 Champions League campaign ended in disappointment after a 1-2 home loss to Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt at Giuseppe Meazza early on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

The aggregate score of 2-5 in the playoff round saw last season’s finalist eliminated before the round of 16.

Why Did Inter Struggle Against Bodo/Glimt?

Inter entered the second leg in a difficult position after losing 1-3 in Norway last week. They needed to win by at least three goals to advance, but the team led by coach Cristian Chivu fell behind again.

Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen scored in the second half, while Alessandro Bastoni netted a consolation goal in the 70th minute.

Much of Inter’s failure can be traced back to the first leg. Analysts highlighted challenging conditions at Aspmyra Stadion, including a synthetic pitch and sub-zero temperatures in the Arctic Circle.

Questions also arose about Chivu’s lineup decisions, such as resting Marcus Thuram and Federico Dimarco to preserve them for Serie A action against Lecce.

Despite sitting seven points clear at the top of the Serie A table, Inter could not overcome Bodo/Glimt.

Key Absences and Declining Star Performances

Several crucial players were unavailable or limited. Captain and top scorer Lautaro Martinez was injured in the first leg, Hakan Calhanoglu missed both games, and Denzel Dumfries played only ten minutes in the second leg.

Nicolo Barella, once a consistent performer, drew criticism for his recent decline in goal contributions, including in the matches against Bodo/Glimt. Italian media even labeled him a weak link.

Struggling Against a Compact Defense

Inter dominated possession in the second leg, recording 23 shots, 10 corners, and 45 attacks in the first hour, compared to Bodo/Glimt’s seven attacks. However, they struggled to break down a low, compact defensive block.

Despite 33 total shots, only six were on target, while Bodo/Glimt managed five on target from seven attempts.

“We're disappointed, both for the loss and for being knocked out. Maybe if we had scored the first goal, we would have put pressure on them. They did very well in how they defended, in how they controlled spaces,” Chivu said.

“We ran out of steam in the second half, then conceded twice. Congratulations to them.”

Challenges with Game Tempo

Questions also arose about Inter’s ability to match the pace of European competition. Former coach Fabio Capello noted that Italian teams typically play at a slower tempo and struggle against teams that rely on pressing and quick transitions.

Bodo/Glimt was compact in defense but rapid on the counter, particularly through Patrick Berg, Jens Petter Hauge, and Ole Didrik Blomberg.

“Right now, we are not accustomed to being aggressive. As soon as they increase the pace in Serie A, they are stopped because a challenge is too hard, a player’s ear is touched, and they go down. These are the results,” Capello said.

“Italian teams play at a slow pace. When they find teams that play press-and-run, they don’t have the quality, aren’t accustomed to playing at a high pace, and make mistakes,” Capello added.

Read: List of 16 Teams Through to 2025-26 Champions League Knockouts

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