How a Norwegian side upended Europe: Champions League shock at the San Siro and who is hit first

Why this matters now: The Champions League upset that saw Bodø/Glimt eliminate Inter Milan immediately reverberates through players, coaches and the competition map — Inter’s status as overwhelming favourites is dented, while Bodø/Glimt’s squad and goalkeeper Nikita Haikin gain a sudden spotlight. For supporters, planners and opponents, the short-term logjam around fixtures and the Round of 16 draw is the first tangible effect.

Champions League ripple: who feels the shock first

Players and staff at Inter Milan and Bodø/Glimt feel the impact most directly. Inter — three-time champions who currently sit 10 points clear at the top of Serie A and arrived as overwhelming favourites for the knockout play-off tie — now exit the competition after last season’s run to the final. Bodø/Glimt, still in their off season in Norway and on their Champions League debut campaign, advance and inherit the logistical and tactical headaches (and opportunities) that come with a sudden last-16 place.

How the tie unfolded in Milan and Norway

Bodø/Glimt beat Inter Milan home and away in the knockout play-off to progress 5-2 on aggregate. They had won the first leg 3-1 and followed that with a 2-1 victory at the San Siro. Inter dominated the first half in the return leg but could not find an early goal; they finished the match with 30 shot attempts and seven shots on target yet put only one past the line.

The decisive sequence arrived after a goalless opening 45. Manuel Akanji lost the ball to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who charged into the box; his initial shot was saved by Yann Sommer, but Jens Petter Hauge volleyed the rebound to score the opener. It was Hauge’s sixth Champions League goal this term — the most by a Norwegian player for a Norwegian club in a single edition — and he scored in both legs against Inter Milan. Håkon Evjen then added a strike that made it 2-0 in the match and 5-1 on aggregate, before Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back for Inter.

Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was crucial for the visitors, repelling several early threats: he tipped over Federico Dimarco’s curling strike and kept out Davide Frattesi’s goalbound effort as Inter peppered the Bodø goal in the first half.

Immediate consequences for the teams and next opponents

Bodø/Glimt will now advance to the Round of 16 and will face either Manchester City or Sporting; a forthcoming Friday draw will determine whether they meet Sporting or Manchester City. For Inter, elimination means no title defense this season and a sudden shift in priorities back to domestic competition. The real question now is how both clubs use this result — Bodø/Glimt to manage an unexpected deep run while Inter reorganizes after an early exit despite a dominant league position.

Tactical notes, injuries and lineup moves

Inter faced the tie without the availability of their captain, Lautaro Martínez, who picked up a calf injury in the first leg and will not be available for the visit. He could recover quicker than expected, but on this occasion he did not feature. In his absence, Marcus Thuram was likely to partner Pio Esposito. Federico Dimarco, unused in the Arctic Circle first leg, was set to start the second leg. Piotr Zieliński operated at the base of midfield in Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s absence, and Nicolo Barella returned to the engine room after missing a recent 2-0 victory over Lecce. Managers on both benches faced contrasting moments: when Antonio Conte was appointed Inter boss in 2019 he sought to remove the club’s so-called "pazza" tag, while Cristian Chivu’s side were urged to embrace a degree of chaos when facing the surprise package from Norway; Kjetil Knutsen’s Bodø/Glimt squad relied on tight-knit teamwork to pull off the result.

Other knockout-round outcomes from Tuesday

• Newcastle beat Qarabağ 9-3 on aggregate after winning 6-1 in the opening leg and adding a 3-2 victory on Tuesday; they will next face either Barcelona or Chelsea.
• Atlético Madrid advanced with a 7-4 aggregate win over Club Brugge; Alexander Sørloth scored a hat trick and Johnny Cardoso netted a notable golazo during the 4-1 win. Atlético will meet either Liverpool or Tottenham in the next round.
• Bayer Leverkusen progressed after protecting a 2-0 first-leg lead against Olympiacos and will face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich.

Here’s the part that matters for planning: Bodø/Glimt have played five total matches — all in the Champions League — since the Norwegian Eliteserien ended in late November, a compact sequence that changes their calendar and recovery window abruptly.

It’s easy to overlook, but the image of some Inter players dropping to the floor after Hauge’s goal captures the scale of the upset; expectations, momentum and a season’s narrative can change in a handful of minutes.

Key takeaways: Bodø/Glimt added Inter to earlier group-phase wins over Manchester City and Atlético Madrid; Jens Petter Hauge scored in both legs and recorded six Champions League goals this term; the Round of 16 opponent will be decided by a Friday draw that could pair Bodø/Glimt with Sporting or Manchester City.