Champions League shock: Bodø/Glimt topple Inter at San Siro and rewrite last-16 picture

Why this matters now: the victory removes one of the competition’s pre-tournament favorites and hands a tiny Norwegian club a landmark place in European knockout football. The champions league landscape just changed — Inter Milan, last season’s finalists and Serie A leaders, are out after a 5-2 aggregate defeat, and Bodø/Glimt move into the last 16 for the first time.

Immediate impact: who feels it most

Inter Milan’s elimination reshuffles expectations for the knockout phase and hands Bodø/Glimt dramatic momentum. The Norwegian side, still in their off season at home, converted an underdog reputation from the group phase into a historic knockout triumph. For Inter, a team described as overwhelming favourites because of domestic form and past European pedigree, the loss is both a sporting and reputational blow.

Champions League: how the tie unfolded

The tie ended 5-2 on aggregate after Bodø/Glimt won both legs. The first leg finished 3-1 in favour of the visitors; the return at the San Siro ended 2-1 to Bodø/Glimt. Inter dominated long stretches of the second leg but could not find an early goal, finishing with 30 shot attempts and seven shots on target while putting only one past the line.

After a goalless first half in the second leg, Jens Petter Hauge capitalised on a turnover by Manuel Akanji in the 58th minute to volley home a rebound — Ole Didrik Blomberg had charged into the box and his initial shot was saved by Yann Sommer before Hauge finished. Håkon Evjen then extended the visitors’ cushion with a strike in the 72nd minute, putting Bodø/Glimt 5-1 ahead on aggregate. Alessandro Bastoni later pulled one back for Inter, but it was not enough.

Nikita Haikin was crucial for Bodø/Glimt in the second leg, making two early saves: he tipped over Federico Dimarco’s curling strike and kept out Davide Frattesi’s goalbound effort. Some Inter players dropped to the floor after Hauge’s goal, visibly sensing the momentum slip away.

Players, pre-match context and lineup notes

Several details from the build-up help explain the narrative: Inter had entered the second leg with a 3–1 deficit to make up. Before the match it was noted that Lautaro Martínez had a calf injury from the first leg and would not be available for Bodø’s visit. Marcus Thuram was expected to partner Pio Esposito in Martínez’s absence. Federico Dimarco had been an unused substitute in the Arctic Circle but was 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 was due to return after missing a 2–0 victory over Lecce. Coaching references in the build-up recalled Antonio Conte’s appointment in 2019 and suggested Cristian Chivu should embrace chaos against Kjetil Knutsen’s tight-knit side, who had already stunned opponents earlier in the campaign.

• Bodø/Glimt progress to the last 16 for the first time after wins in Norway and Italy, advancing 5-2 on aggregate.
• Jens Petter Hauge scored in both legs; his goal in the second leg was his sixth in this champions league campaign — the most by a Norwegian player for a Norwegian club in a single edition.
• Bodø/Glimt had already beaten Manchester City and Atlético Madrid during the group phase.
• At the draw stage, Bodø/Glimt will face either Manchester City or Sporting; that pairing is to be decided at the upcoming draw.
• Other confirmed knockout outcomes: Newcastle eliminated Qarabağ 9-3 on aggregate (6-1 then 3-2) and will face either Barcelona or Chelsea; Atlético Madrid advanced 7-4 on aggregate over Club Brugge after a 4-1 second-leg win, with Alexander Sørloth scoring a hat trick and Johnny Cardoso adding a golazo; Atlético will meet Liverpool or Tottenham; Bayer Leverkusen progressed and will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich after protecting a 2-0 first-leg lead to knock out Olympiacos.

What’s easy to miss is how unusual it is for a club still in its off season to sustain a five-game run — Bodø/Glimt had played five total matches, all in the champions league, since the Norwegian Eliteserien ended in late November.

Implications and next signals for the knockout stage

Here’s the part that matters: Bodø/Glimt’s run removes a heavyweight from the bracket and hands them a high-profile last-16 assignment — either Manchester City or Sporting. The real question now is whether Bodø/Glimt can translate this form into deeper progression when they face one of Europe’s established contenders.

Micro takeaways that hint at what could confirm the next turn:

• If Bodø/Glimt maintain goalkeeper-level shot-stopping and clinical finishing, they can stay competitive against top opposition.
• If Inter’s 30-shot performance becomes a pattern without finishing, questions about their European match temperament will deepen.
• Watch whether the upcoming draw pairs Bodø/Glimt with Manchester City or Sporting — the opponent will shape expectations and strategy for the Norwegians.

The bigger signal here is that a side from Norway’s off season has produced consistent results against elite clubs this campaign, changing the conversation around underdogs in Europe.

Timeline (brief): first leg 3-1 to Bodø/Glimt; second leg 2-1 to Bodø/Glimt at the San Siro with goals in the 58th (Hauge) and 72nd (Evjen); aggregate finish 5-2 and Bodø/Glimt into the last 16.

Editor’s note: this collection of match facts and build-up details comes from the available coverage and reflects the distinct information provided; some pre-match lineup expectations were stated before the second leg and are included here exactly as given.