Bodø/Glimt beat Inter Milan 2-1 in the second leg of their Champions League playoff at San Siro on Tuesday night, winning 5-2 on aggregate to dump out last year's finalists and advance to the round of 16. The Norwegian team from north of the Arctic Circle held firm against the Italian giants, who needed to win by three goals to turn the tie around after losing 3-1 at home in the first leg.
Key Takeaways
- Bodø/Glimt won 2-1 in the second leg for a 5-2 aggregate victory over Inter Milan.
- Goals from Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen sealed the upset at San Siro.
- This marks Bodø/Glimt's first ever time reaching the Champions League last 16.
- Inter, Serie A leaders and recent finalists, now drop to the Europa League.
Background
Bodø/Glimt's run in this season's Champions League has turned heads. The club sits farther north than any team ever to play in Europe's top club competition. They sit above the Arctic Circle in a town of just 50,000 people. Yet they've beaten big names along the way.
It started with a home draw against Borussia Dortmund. Then came wins over Manchester City at home and Atletico Madrid away. Those results put them into the playoffs. No one expected them to trouble Inter Milan. Inter reached the final in two of the last three years. They're top of Serie A right now, 10 points clear after a midweek win over Lecce.
But the first leg changed everything. On February 18 in Norway, Bodø/Glimt won 3-1 at Aspmyra Stadion. Sondre Brunstad Fet scored first in the 20th minute. Inter's Francesco Pio Esposito equalized soon after. But then Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Hogh struck in the second half. Hauge, who once played for AC Milan, netted with a fierce shot. Hogh grabbed his second of the night. The synthetic pitch and cold weather didn't help Inter. Lautaro Martinez got hurt there too, a calf injury that kept him out.
Inter went into the second leg desperate. They needed at least three goals, maybe more. The San Siro was packed. Fans hoped for a comeback like Liverpool's famous one against Barcelona years back. No team had overturned a two-legged deficit in these playoffs since then. Inter had the players to do it. Marcus Thuram led the attack. Davide Frattesi started in midfield instead of the injured Hakan Calhanoglu. Denzel Dumfries returned from injury on the bench.
Bodø/Glimt arrived rested. Their Norwegian league doesn't restart until March 6. They'd spent weeks in a training camp in Spain. That kept them sharp. They had a full squad. Kasper Hogh was the danger man again after his first-leg heroics.
Key Details
The game kicked off at 8pm local time. Inter pressed hard from the start. They dominated possession. But Bodø/Glimt defended deep. They waited for chances on the break.
The first half stayed goalless. Inter hit the woodwork. Chances came and went. Frustration built. Half-time came with the aggregate still 3-1 to the Norwegians.
Second Half Drama
Then the second half exploded. Just five minutes in, Bodø/Glimt struck. Jens Petter Hauge scored in the 58th minute. He latched onto a quick pass and fired past Yann Sommer. San Siro fell quiet. Aggregate 4-1.
Nine minutes later, Jostein Gundersen made it two. A counter-attack. Bodø/Glimt moved the ball fast. Gundersen finished coolly. 2-0 on the night. 5-1 overall. The upset looked done.
Inter pulled one back. Alessandro Bastoni headed in from a corner. Ange-Yoan Bonny assisted. 2-1 now. 5-2 aggregate. The crowd roared. But time was short.
Inter pushed. They threw men forward. Dumfries came on. So did others. Bodø/Glimt held firm. Keeper Nikita Haikin made key saves. The final whistle blew. History made.
"I feel amazing, just thankful to play with this team. I'm happy that I could help the team by making assists and scoring a goal. I play in a good team, so that's nice." – Kasper Hogh after the first leg
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team's effort but admitted the damage from Norway was too much. Bodø/Glimt's Kjetil Knutsen called it the biggest win in club history. Fans back home went wild. Street parties broke out in Bodø despite the late hour.
Line-ups told a story too. Inter: Sommer; Bisseck, Akanji, Bastoni; Luis Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Barella, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito. Bodø/Glimt: Haikin; Sjovold, Bjortuft, Gundersen, Bjorkan; Evjen, Berg, Brunstad Fet; Blomberg, Hogh, Hauge.
This wasn't luck. Bodø/Glimt fixed their away form issues. They've won tough games on the road. Quick passing. Unselfish play. That's their style. Inter couldn't match it when it counted.
And the injuries hurt. Martinez out for a month. Calhanoglu sidelined again. It left gaps. Frattesi tried, but couldn't spark enough.
But Bodø/Glimt? Full strength. Hauge knows San Siro from Milan days. He delivered. Evjen assisted the second. The team gelled.
Stats show the shock. Inter had 65% possession. 22 shots to Bodø/Glimt's 8. But efficiency wins games. The Norwegians converted chances. Inter didn't.
What This Means
Bodø/Glimt now face the Champions League last 16. It's uncharted territory. They've made history already. The draw comes soon. They could meet anyone. Bayern Munich. Real Madrid. Or another giant. Their run won't stop here.
For Inter, it's Europa League now. A blow. They aimed higher. Serie A stays their focus. But this stings. Fans expected more pedigree to shine through.
The upset shakes the competition. Norwegian football gets a boost. Bodø/Glimt's model works. Smart scouting. Youth development. High press. Others will watch. Van de Ven Attracts Liverpool, Man United, Real Madrid Interest. Big clubs notice rising talents.
Inter must regroup. Injuries heal. Form returns. But questions linger. Can they bounce back? Europa League offers a path. Still silverware possible.
Broader impact too. Champions League playoffs get spicier. Underdogs rise. Giants fall. Fans love it. More shocks likely.
Bodø/Glimt changes perceptions. Arctic Circle club on Europe's biggest stage. Population tiny. Ambition huge. They prove money isn't everything.
Inter's loss hurts domestically too. Rivals like Juventus smile. Pressure mounts despite the league lead.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When did Bodø/Glimt beat Inter?
A: First leg February 18 in Norway, 3-1. Second leg February 24 at San Siro, 2-1 to Bodø/Glimt.
Q: Who scored for Bodø/Glimt in the second leg?
A: Jens Petter Hauge in the 58th minute and Hakon Evjen in the 72nd.
Q: What's next for Bodø/Glimt?
A: They advance to the Champions League round of 16. Draw happens soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Bodø/Glimt beat Inter?
First leg February 18 in Norway, 3-1. Second leg February 24 at San Siro, 2-1 to Bodø/Glimt.
Who scored for Bodø/Glimt in the second leg?
Jens Petter Hauge in the 58th minute and Hakon Evjen in the 72nd.
What’s next for Bodø/Glimt?
They advance to the Champions League round of 16. Draw happens soon.
