Arctic Giants: Bodo/Glimt Make Champions League History
In a result that has stunned European football, Norwegian side Bod0/Glimt secured their place in the UEFA Champions League last 16 by defeating Inter Milan 2-1 at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.
Despite the Italian giants’ prestigious history, the visitors completed a dominant 5-2 aggregate victory on Tuesday, 25 February, marking the first time a Norwegian club has reached this stage since 1987.
Under intense pressure from the three-time winners, the “Arctic minnows” remained resolute. Following a scoreless first half, Jens Petter Hauge clinically converted a rebound for his sixth goal of the tournament. Hakon Evjen later doubled the lead, rendering Alessandro Bastoni’s late strike a mere consolation.
Supported by 3 000 travelling fans – a significant portion of Bodo’s 50 000-strong population – the victory cements the club’s reputation as “giant killers” following earlier wins against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
Reflecting on the magnitude of the achievement, manager Kjetil Knutsen remarked, “I really hope we show, if we can do it, then everyone can do it. For me, that’s the most beautiful thing of the whole story.”
The Norwegian champions now prepare for a knockout tie against either Manchester City or Sporting.
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