Champions League shock as champions league debutants Bodø/Glimt eliminate Inter Milan at the San Siro

Bodø/Glimt have beaten Inter Milan home and away to progress 5-2 on aggregate and reach the Champions League last 16 for the first time, a result that removes last season's finalists from the competition and hands the Norwegians an unexpected place in the knockout stages.

Aggregate scoreline and route through the tie

Bodø/Glimt’s pair of wins — a 3-1 victory in the first leg and a 2-1 win at the San Siro — left the tie 5-2 on aggregate. The Norwegian side added Inter to a list of big scalps from their debut Champions League campaign after earlier group-phase wins over Manchester City and Atlético Madrid. They will face either Manchester City or Sporting in the last 16; Friday's draw will determine which of those opponents they meet.

Decisive moments: Akanji, Blomberg, Hauge and Evjen

The match’s defining action began in the 58th minute when Manuel Akanji lost the ball to Ole Didrik Blomberg, who charged into the box; Blomberg’s shot was saved superbly by Yann Sommer, but Jens Petter Hauge volleyed home the rebound to open the scoring. Hauge’s goal was his sixth Champions League strike this term and the most by a Norwegian player for a Norwegian club in a single edition of the competition. Håkon Evjen then added what became the decisive second goal with a strike in the 72nd minute; Hauge scored in both legs and also assisted Evjen's finish in Italy.

Inter pressure, missed chances and squad notes

Inter dominated the first half and peppered the Bodø goal as they sought to overturn a two-goal deficit, finishing the tie with 30 shot attempts and seven shots on target but only one goal. Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin was kept very busy and made two early crucial 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 opener, sensing just how tough the task had become.

Squad and fitness details that shaped the tie included Lautaro Martínez picking up a calf injury in the first leg and not being available for the second leg. Federico Dimarco had been an unused substitute in the Arctic Circle but was described as a certainty to start the second leg. Piotr Zieliński was set to operate at the base of midfield in Hakan Çalhanoğlu’s absence, Nicolo Barella was due to return after missing a 2-0 victory over Lecce, and Marcus Thuram was expected to partner Pio Esposito.

How Bodø/Glimt built a reputation during their debut campaign

Bodø/Glimt are still in their off season in Norway but have earned a reputation for producing results against the odds during their Champions League debut campaign. They have produced memorable wins on visits to Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid and, since the Norwegian Eliteserien ended in late November, have played five total matches — all in the Champions League. This progression marks the first time the club has reached the last 16.

Wider Tuesday knockout-round picture and other results

Tuesday’s action produced several other ties decided. Newcastle eliminated Qarabağ with a 9-3 aggregate win after a 6-1 opening-leg victory and a 3-2 follow-up on Tuesday; Newcastle will next face either Barcelona or Chelsea. Atlético Madrid advanced with a 7-4 aggregate victory over Club Brugge after a 4-1 win on Tuesday in which Alexander Sørloth scored a hat trick and USMNT midfielder Johnny Cardoso scored a golazo; Atlético will meet either Liverpool or Tottenham in the next round. Bayer Leverkusen also progressed, protecting a 2-0 first-leg lead to knock out Olympiacos and set up a last-16 tie against either Arsenal or Bayern Munich.

Upset status and what comes next for Bodø/Glimt

By eliminating Inter — three-time champions of the competition who sit 10 points clear at the top of Serie A and entered the tie as overwhelming favourites — Bodø/Glimt produced what has been called one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history. The Norwegians will now prepare for the Round of 16 and wait for Friday's draw to learn whether they will face Sporting or Manchester City.