Inter - Bodø/glimt: How a San Siro upset shifts who feels the impact in Europe

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 25, 2026 1:44 AM ET

Inter - Bodø/glimt: How a San Siro upset shifts who feels the impact in Europe

Who felt the shock first: a small Arctic-town club, Inter Milan’s title chase, or the wider Champions League field? The match labeled inter - bodø/glimt matters because a 2-1 win at the San Siro that sealed a 5-2 aggregate has immediate consequences for Norwegian football’s profile, for Inter’s season dynamics, and for the next-round match-ups. This is not just one result — it reassigns momentum and historical firsts.

Immediate effects on clubs, fans and national football

Bodø/Glimt’s win redistributed stakes. The Norwegian club advanced to the Champions League round of 16 after a 2-1 victory in Milan that completed a 5-2 aggregate playoff win, becoming the first Norwegian team ever to win a Champions League knockout tie. Around 3, 000 traveling Bodø fans celebrated at the San Siro when Hakon Evjen’s 72nd-minute goal made the margin unassailable; Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni had pulled one back but the damage was done. Inter remain Serie A leaders by 10 points, but this elimination changes how the rest of their season will be managed and how observers will judge their European campaign.

Inter - Bodø/glimt: match facts and the decisive moments

Key match sequence preserved from the game: Bodø/Glimt defended a 3-1 first-leg lead and soaked up early pressure in Milan before seizing two second-half chances. A mistake by Manuel Akanji was exploited by Ole Didrik Blomberg in the 58th minute; Blomberg’s shot was saved by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer, and Jens Petter Hauge converted the rebound. Hauge’s goal was his sixth in this Champions League season, the most ever by any player for a Norwegian club in a single edition. Akanji later hit the post as Inter pushed, but Hakon Evjen’s 72nd-minute strike extended the visitors’ advantage. The single-match score was 2-1 to Bodø/Glimt, producing a 5-2 aggregate and progression to face either Manchester City or Sporting CP in the last 16.

Selection notes, injuries and managerial context

Availability and selection details that framed the tie: Lautaro Martínez, having picked up a calf injury in the first leg, was not available for Bodø’s visit. In Inter’s planning, Marcus Thuram was likely to partner recent goalscorer Pio Esposito in Martínez’s absence. Federico Dimarco had been an unused substitute during Bodø’s Arctic-Circle visit but was expected to start the home leg. Piotr Zieliński was set to operate at the base of midfield with Hakan Çalhanoğlu absent, and Nicolo Barella returned to the lineup after missing a recent 2-0 league victory over Lecce. On the managerial side, the preview context referenced Antonio Conte’s 2019 appointment and his earlier desire to change the club’s reputation; Cristian Chivu’s team were advised to embrace chaos when facing the surprise package from the north.

Records, run and historical comparisons

Bodø/Glimt are the first Norwegian side to progress in a Champions League knockout tie and the first Norwegian club to do so in the European Cup since Lillestrom in 1987-88.
They became the first team from outside Europe’s big five leagues to win four consecutive European Cup/Champions League games against opponents from those leagues since Ajax in 1971-72; Ajax went on to win the trophy that season.
A month before this turnaround, Bodø/Glimt had been given a 0. 3% chance of advancing after picking up three points from six group-phase games, and they had yet to win a Champions League match by the start of January.

Here's the part that matters: Bodø/Glimt’s run included late-stage wins over Manchester City and Atlético Madrid in the league phase and now Inter in the knockout play-off round, a sequence that rewrote expectations about teams from outside the traditional top-five leagues. The club is based roughly 70 miles inside the Arctic Circle, an often-noted detail in narratives about their ascent.

Hauge has six Champions League goals this season, a single-season record for a Norwegian club player.
Evjen’s finish and Hauge’s rebound conversion were the decisive strikes at the San Siro.
The 5-2 aggregate sends Bodø/Glimt to a last-16 tie against either Manchester City or Sporting CP.

Quick timeline and next signals

Start of January: Bodø/Glimt had not yet won a Champions League match (unclear in the provided context why initial struggles persisted).
Late league-phase wins over Manchester City and Atlético Madrid pushed Bodø into the play-offs.
Feb 24, 2026: Bodø/Glimt win 2-1 at the San Siro and progress 5-2 on aggregate.
Forward indicator: progression to face City or Sporting CP will confirm how far this momentum can carry them against elite opposition.

What’s easy to miss is how many distinct milestones were achieved in a single campaign: first knockout win for Norway, a national club scoring record, and a four-game streak against big-five opponents that echoes a pattern not seen since the early 1970s. The real question now is how Bodø/Glimt manage squad depth and travel while Inter reevaluates priorities after a domestic-leading season that now lacks European continuation.

Key takeaways:

Bodø/Glimt progressed 5-2 on aggregate with a 2-1 win at San Siro (Feb 24, 2026).
Jens Petter Hauge scored and set up critical moments; he now has six goals in the competition this season.
Manuel Akanji’s error led to the opening sequence; Yann Sommer saved Blomberg’s shot before the rebound was converted.
Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni scored a consolation; Nicolo Barella expressed disappointment after elimination.
Next opponent will be Manchester City or Sporting CP; historical comparators include Lillestrom (1987-88) and Ajax (1971-72).

Travel arrangements, squad rotation and fixture congestion are now the operational matters that will determine whether this run continues; those practical details will show the next turns in this story. Schedule and selections mentioned were framed by the match context and remain subject to change.