Real Madrid dodge Arctic nightmare as Bodø/Glimt's pitch buried under snow ahead of Inter clash
Los Blancos avoided a potential Champions League nightmare in Norway, where Inter Milan now face sub-zero temperatures and a snow-covered artificial pitch.
Madrid breathe sigh of relief after Champions League playoff draw sent them to Benfica instead of frozen Norwegian outpost
Arctic conditions await Inter Milan
Real Madrid must be counting their lucky stars right now. The Champions League playoff draw could’ve sent them to the Arctic Circle, but instead, they’re off to sunny Lisbon to face Benfica – and the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
While Los Blancos prepare for their Portuguese test, Inter Milan are gearing up for what looks like football’s version of an Arctic expedition. Recent images from Bodø/Glimt’s Aspmyra Stadion show a pitch completely buried under snow just days before hosting the Italian champions.
According to reports, stadium staff are frantically clearing snow, with more forecast for Tuesday. The situation’s so dire that an Italian TV broadcast truck has apparently got itself stuck on the E6 highway an hour outside Bodø, waiting for a tow. Welcome to Norway, indeed!
Why Madrid feared the Norwegian trap
It’s no secret that Madrid were desperate to avoid Bodø/Glimt in the draw, despite the Norwegian side being considered the weaker opponent on paper. The reasons were crystal clear:
- The nightmare journey to the Arctic Circle
- Bodø’s notorious artificial pitch at Aspmyra Stadion
- The brutal weather conditions in northern Norway
Weather forecast: absolutely brass monkeys
Wednesday’s match conditions look properly Baltic, with temperatures expected to hit -4°C, winds of 13 km/h, and a slight (10%) chance of snowfall during the 9pm kickoff.
Inter have been warned – Bodø/Glimt’s home record against European visitors is seriously impressive. They’ve claimed scalps including:
- Manchester City (3-1)
- Roma (6-1 and 2-1)
- Celtic (2-0)
- Porto (3-2)
- Lazio (2-0)
Christian Chivu’s Inter side will be desperate to avoid joining what locals might call the “white list” of European giants who’ve come a cropper on Bodø’s frozen plastic pitch.
As Madrid fans might say – “that’s a right Bobby Moore we’ve avoided there!” Sometimes, the Champions League draw can be as important for who you don’t face as who you do.