Champions League shock as champions league debutants Bodø/Glimt knock out Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate
Bodø/Glimt beat Inter Milan home and away to progress 5-2 on aggregate and reach the champions league last 16 for the first time, producing what has been described as one of the competition's biggest upsets. The Norwegian side added Tuesday's 2-1 win at the San Siro to a 3-1 first-leg victory to eliminate last season's finalists.
How the San Siro tie swung: Hauge and Evjen the decisive moments
After a goalless first half in Milan, Jens Petter Hauge capitalised on a Manuel Akanji mistake in the 58th minute to score the opener. Akanji lost the ball to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who charged into the box; Blomberg's shot was saved by Yann Sommer but Hauge volleyed the rebound home. Hauge's goal was his sixth Champions League strike this term and he scored in both legs against Inter Milan.
Håkon Evjen then made it 2-0 in the match — 5-1 on aggregate — with a strike that extended Bodø/Glimt's lead before Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back for Inter. Some Inter players dropped to the floor after Hauge's goal, realising how much harder the task had become.
Inter pressure, saves and statistics from Milan
Inter dominated the first half and peppered the Bodø goal, finishing the tie with 30 shot attempts and seven shots on goal but only one successful finish. Bodø/Glimt’s goalkeeper Nikita Haikin made two early crucial saves at the San Siro, first tipping over Federico Dimarco's curling strike and then keeping out Davide Frattesi's goalbound effort. Yann Sommer’s save of Blomberg’s attempt preceded Hauge’s rebound finish.
Bodø/Glimt's historic run and unusual schedule
The Norwegians reached the last 16 for the first time and knocked out last year's finalists. Bodø/Glimt had already beaten Manchester City and Atlético Madrid in the competition's group phase and added Inter to that list after a 3-1 first-leg win. The club remain in their off season in Norway and have played five matches — all in the Champions League — since the Eliteserien ended in late November, a run that has burnished their reputation for producing results against the odds in their Champions League debut campaign.
With progression secured, Bodø/Glimt will face either Manchester City or Sporting in the last 16, a fixture to be determined by Friday's draw.
Team news, injuries and managerial context
The tie had been framed by pre-match notes that Inter entered the second leg with a 3–1 deficit to make up. Cristian Chivu was in charge of Inter for the tie; Antonio Conte's 2019 appointment at the club was referenced when assessing Inter's identity. Bodø’s manager Kjetil Knutsen was cited as the architect of the Norwegian side’s surprise run.
Inter's captain Lautaro Martínez picked up a calf injury in the first leg; while there was talk he could recover quicker than expected, he was not available for the second leg. Federico Dimarco had been an unused substitute in the Arctic Circle during the first meeting but was expected to start the return match. Piotr Zieliński was to operate at the base of midfield in Hakan Çalhanoğlu's absence, and Nicolo Barella was set to return after missing a Saturday 2-0 victory over Lecce. Marcus Thuram was mentioned as likely to partner Pio Esposito in attack.
Other Tuesday results and the evolving last-16 picture
Tuesday's knockout play-off day produced a number of Round of 16 qualifiers. Newcastle ended Qarabağ's Champions League campaign with a 9-3 aggregate win, following a 6-1 first-leg advantage with a 3-2 second-leg victory; Newcastle will next face either Barcelona or Chelsea. Atlético Madrid advanced 7-4 on aggregate over Club Brugge, with Alexander Sørloth scoring a hat trick and Johnny Cardoso netting a golazo in the 4-1 second-leg win; Atlético will meet either Liverpool or Tottenham.
Bayer Leverkusen also advanced after protecting a 2-0 first-leg lead against Olympiacos and will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the next round.
