Inter Milan’s European campaign hit a massive roadblock on Wednesday night as they suffered a shock 3–1 defeat to Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of the Champions League knockout playoffs.
However, the result in Norway was only half the story, as the club faces a major crisis with captain Lautaro Martínez limping off with what manager Cristian Chivu described as a “serious” injury.
The Nightmare in Norway
Played on the notorious synthetic turf of the Aspmyra Stadion in freezing conditions, Inter struggled to find their rhythm.
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The Match: Despite Francesco Pio Esposito giving Inter an early lead, Bodo/Glimt capitalized on their home advantage. A quick-fire double in the second half from Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Høgh left the Nerazzurri stunned.
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The Surface Issue: Post-match, Chivu admitted the artificial pitch played a role but refused to use it as a crutch. “We tried, despite the pitch,” Chivu told Prime Video. “It’s not an excuse, but I cannot be too harsh on the players. They move better on this surface.”
The “Lost” Captain
The biggest blow came in the 61st minute when Lautaro Martínez was forced to leave the pitch, replaced by Marcus Thuram. Chivu’s post-match assessment was bleak.
“We have lost Lautaro,” Chivu conceded. “He is injured, and it is quite serious. I think he will be out for a while.”
While official medical tests are scheduled for tomorrow, early reports from Sky Italy and Mundo Albiceleste suggest a calf muscle injury. While Chivu used the word “serious,” some Argentine sources are hopeful that he may only miss a few weeks, though his presence for the second leg is now highly unlikely.
Inter’s Mountain to Climb
Inter now returns to the San Siro with a two-goal deficit to overturn.
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Next Steps: Before the return leg, Inter faces Lecce in Serie A this weekend.
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The Return Leg: The reverse fixture takes place on February 24, 2026. Without their talismanic captain, Chivu will likely lean on the young duo of Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny to lead the line.