Berlin [Germany], February 21: Norway's Bodo/Glimt wrote another chapter in their Champions League fairytale on Wednesday while Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle United also had memorable victories in their Champions League play-off first legs.
The team from the Arctic Circle with a plastic pitch won 3-1 at home against three-times European Cup winners Inter Milan and will fancy their chances of reaching the last 16 after Tuesday's second leg at the San Siro. They were not even happy with their home display.
"I don't think we played our best game today. We were too inaccurate with the ball, we were too inaccurate in expressing our identity.
There was something a little passive about us, but we scored some fantastic goals," coach Kjetil Knutsen told TV 2.
Bodo, in their first Champions League campaign, had already beaten Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league phase to make the play-offs. Now clear Serie A leaders Inter have succumbed - for the time being.
A flowing Bodo move was finished off by Sondre Brunstad Fet on 20 minutes, but Pio Esposito equalized before the interval after surviving a video check for handball.
Bodo, who also beat Italians Lazio en route to the Europa League semi-finals last term, then powered ahead in the second period through Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Hogh.
Leverkusen's Patrik Schick produced a cool finish and a header to seal a 2-0 win in the fervent atmosphere of Olympiacos Piraeus, where the Germans had suffered a 2-0 loss in the league phase last month.
The Werkself were also lucky that a video review picked up a slight touch from the offside Mehdi Taremi when Ayoub El Kaabi headed in.
"The first step has been taken," Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich told DAZN. "Patrik does what he needs to do up top." Leverkusen may draw Bayern Munich like last season if they progress.
Brugge with late leveller against Atletico
Atletico drew 3-3 in a wild game at Club Brugge, who fought back twice for a late draw.
An early penalty from Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman kneeing in the Argentina man's corner had the Spaniards 2-0 up at half-time.
Raphael Onyedika pulled one back early in the second half and Germany under-21 forward Nicolo Tresoldi completed the comeback, only for an own goal by Joel Ordoñez on 79 minutes to boost the visitors.
A late offside call was overturned though on video review and a fine Christos Tzolis strike snatched an 89th-minute draw for the Belgians.
Newcastle have one foot in the last 16 after thrashing Qarabag 6-1 in Azerbaijan, with Anthony Gordon scoring four goals in the first half.
England winger Gordon grabbed the opener after 3 minutes before German defender Malick Thiaw made it 2-0 with a towering header.
Gordon converted a penalty and then netted again before dispatching a second spot-kick he won himself before the break.
Despite the score, Gordon was involved in a row with captain Kieran Trippier over penalty duties as they left the field at half-time.
Elvin Jafarguliyev netted for the hosts in an improved second half display before Jacob Murphy's deflected strike for the Magpies.
Coach Eddie Howe told TNT Sports: "We know the tie is not dead or over, but we've put ourselves in a great position. We've got to be professional in every moment."
Source: Qatar Tribune
