Champions League shock: champions league upset at San Siro as Bodø/Glimt knock out Inter Milan
Bodø/Glimt eliminated Inter Milan from the champions league after beating them 2-1 at the San Siro to complete a 5-2 aggregate win following a 3-1 first-leg victory. The Norwegian side will reach the last 16 for the first time.
How the match unfolded
Inter dominated the first half at the San Siro but could not find an early goal. Bodø/Glimt repelled sustained pressure and their goalkeeper Nikita Haikin made two early, crucial saves, first tipping over Federico Dimarco's curling strike and then keeping out Davide Frattesi's goalbound effort.
Key turning points and scorers
The decisive moment arrived in the 58th minute when Manuel Akanji lost possession to Ole Didrik Blomberg. Blomberg charged into the box and his shot was saved superbly by Yann Sommer, but Jens Petter Hauge was on hand to volley home the rebound. Hauge, back at the San Siro where he had two difficult years at AC Milan, scored the opener and later assisted Hakon Evjen's second goal for the visitors.
Håkon Evjen then added a strike in the 72nd minute to make it 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate. Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back for Inter, but it was not enough and last season's finalists Inter were eliminated.
Statistics and significance
Jens Petter Hauge scored in both legs against Inter Milan; his goal at the San Siro was his sixth Champions League goal this term, the most by a Norwegian player for a Norwegian club in a single edition of the competition. Some Inter players dropped to the floor after Hauge's goal, sensing how the task had become even harder.
Despite finishing with 30 shot attempts and seven shots on goal across the tie, Inter put only one past the line. Bodø/Glimt beat Inter Milan home and away in the knockout play-off to progress 5-2 on aggregate, having already beaten Manchester City and Atlético Madrid in the competition's group phase.
Context, squads and injuries
Inter had a 3–1 deficit to make up after the first leg. Lautaro Martínez picked up a calf injury in the first leg and would not be available for Bodø’s visit. Federico Dimarco had been an unused substitute in the Arctic Circle but was a certainty to start the return match. Piotr Zieliński was set to operate at the base of midfield in Hakan Çalhanoğlu's absence, and Nicolo Barella was due to return after missing a 2–0 victory over Lecce. Marcus Thuram was expected to partner Pio Esposito.
Antonio Conte was appointed Inter boss in 2019 with a desire to rid the Nerazzurri of their "pazza" tag, a detail noted during the buildup, and Cristian Chivu was managing the side for this tie. Kjetil Knutsen is the Bodø coach whose squad produced the upset.
What happens next
Bodø/Glimt, still in their off season in Norway and having played five total matches — all in the Champions League — since the Eliteserien ended in late November, will now advance to the round of 16. They will face either Manchester City or Sporting; a Friday draw will determine which opponent they meet.
Other knockout results
Newcastle ended Qarabağ's Champions League campaign with a 9-3 aggregate win, after a 6-1 opening leg and a 3-2 second-leg victory; Newcastle will next face either Barcelona or Chelsea. Atlético Madrid advanced with a 7-4 aggregate win over Club Brugge, Alexander Sørloth scoring a hat trick and Johnny Cardoso scoring a golazo that was his first goal for Atlético Madrid; Atlético will meet either Liverpool or Tottenham next. Bayer Leverkusen protected a 2-0 first-leg lead against Olympiacos to knock out the Greek side and will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the next round.
Bodø/Glimt's victory over Inter — a three-time champions side that sits 10 points clear at the top of Serie A and entered the tie as overwhelming favourites — stands as one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history and marks the Norwegians' debut progression to the last 16.
