Inter - Bodø/glimt: Bodø/Glimt stun Inter at San Siro to reach Champions League last 16
Bodø/Glimt beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the San Siro and completed a 5-2 aggregate to reach the Champions League last 16, in a result that removes the Serie A leaders from the competition. The inter - bodø/glimt tie matters now because the Norwegian side’s late surge — and the wider results across the play-offs — reshapes the round-of-16 picture and prompts scrutiny of Inter’s response at home.
San Siro: Hauge and Evjen deliver the decisive blow
The second leg at the San Siro finished Inter 1-2 Bodø, leaving a 2-5 aggregate in Bodø/Glimt’s favour. Jens Petter Hauge opened the scoring and Hakon Evjen doubled the visitors’ lead with a quick second goal around the hour mark; Alessandro Bastoni later pulled one back for Inter. Those two strikes in quick succession were the immediate cause of Inter’s elimination, as the visitors' two-goal cushion from the second leg offset Inter’s single reply and settled the tie.
Jens Petter Hauge honoured as UEFA player of the match
Jens Petter Hauge was named UEFA’s player of the match after the game. He tucked home a rebound to open the scoring and then delivered a wonderful cross that set up Hakon Evjen’s goal, while being described as a constant threat on the break and a tireless worker off the ball.
Cristian Chivu, squad changes and injury updates
Cristian Chivu’s Inter arrived at the second leg with a 3-1 deficit to overturn from the first meeting. The preview narrative noted that when Antonio Conte was appointed Inter boss in 2019 he wanted to remove the club’s “pazza” tag, but that Chivu might have to embrace chaos against this surprise package. Lautaro Martínez, who picked up a calf injury in the first leg, could recover quicker than expected but will not be available for Bodø’s visit. Marcus Thuram was expected to partner Pio Esposito in Martínez’s absence. Federico Dimarco — an unused substitute in the Arctic Circle first leg — was described as certain to start the second leg. Piotr Zieliński was set to operate at the base of midfield in Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s absence, while Nicolo Barella would return to Chivu’s engine room after missing Inter’s 2-0 win over Lecce.
Newcastle v Qarabag: nine-goal aggregate and contrasting emotions
On the other side of the play-offs, Newcastle beat Qarabag 3-2 on the night and sealed a 9-3 aggregate victory. Sandro Tonali and Joelinton scored early for Newcastle, Duran replied, then Sven Botman headed in before Cəfərquliyev scored after Newcastle goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale saved a penalty; the final aggregate stood at 9-3. Newcastle became only the third English team to score nine or more goals in a Champions League knockout-stage tie, after Manchester City’s 10-2 in 2018–19 and Arsenal’s 9-3 in the previous season. Sandro Tonali said the team started very well in the first 10 minutes, admitted dissatisfaction with the second half for playing on the result despite the heavy aggregate, and insisted the squad must push every minute because the fans deserve full effort. Manager Eddie Howe acknowledged that after going 2-0 his side eased off the pedal, the second half became end to end, players expended too much energy and fatigue showed, and that reaching the knockout stage had been the club’s target for the season; he also praised the supporters and the tifo displayed in his honour.
Reaction, context and coverage
Reaction to Bodø/Glimt’s victory ranged from pundits’ praise to exuberant fan mail. Commentators called it a historic night in which Bodø “swatted aside” three-time European champions and current Serie A leaders Inter, continuing one of the competition’s great giant-killing runs. The Norwegian club’s run has been striking: they earned only two points from their first five group-stage matches domestically, scraped into the knockout phase in 23rd place by two goals, and are now one step away from becoming only the second Norwegian team to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, following Rosenborg in 1997. Fans noted Bodø’s earlier giant-killing feats against Manchester City and Atlético Madrid, and some drew comparisons with past upsets such as CSKA Sofia beating holders Nottingham Forest in 1980; one fan quipped about Bodø sharing its name with a Radiohead b-side. Pundit Julien Laurens highlighted similarities in success between Sporting CP, Club Brugge and Bodø — crediting scouting and academy performance — and criticised Italian academies for not producing enough first-team-ready players and for different spending approaches. Journalists and commentators emphasised that smaller teams making waves is a positive for the competition.
Atletico Madrid’s win over Club Brugge set up a tie with either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur later in the play-offs. Broadcast arrangements for the Inter tie and wider coverage included TNT Sports 1, discovery+, the discovery+ App, Paramount+, TUDN USA, UniMás, TUDN. com, Univision NOW and the TUDN App.
Inter - Bodø/glimt: what comes next
The immediate effect is clear: Bodø/Glimt progress to the Champions League last 16 at Inter’s expense, and Newcastle join them in the knockout stage after a 9-3 aggregate over Qarabag. The timing matters because these results reshape the round-of-16 draw and prompt questions about Inter’s squad management and Italian football’s youth production, while underlining Bodø/Glimt’s continued reputation for producing upsets in Europe.
