Bodø/Glimt Stun Inter Milan to Reach Champions League Last 16 in Historic Upset

In one of the most astonishing results in UEFA Champions League history, Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt have knocked out last season's finalists Inter Milan, advancing to the round of 16 with a commanding 5-2 aggregate victory in the knockout round playoffs.

The drama unfolded over two legs. In the first leg on February 18, 2026, at Aspmyra Stadion, Bodø/Glimt stunned the Italian giants with a 3-1 win. Despite Pio Esposito pulling one back for Inter before halftime, goals from Jens Petter Hauge, Kasper Høgh, and another strike sealed a commanding lead for the Arctic Circle club.

Inter, leading Serie A and boasting a star-studded squad, hosted the decisive second leg at the iconic San Siro on February 24, 2026. They needed a major turnaround but faltered again. Bodø/Glimt struck twice in the second half through Jens Petter Hauge (58') and Haakon Evjen (72'), taking a seemingly unassailable 5-1 aggregate advantage. Alessandro Bastoni grabbed a late consolation for Inter, but it was too little, too late as the final whistle confirmed a 2-1 home defeat and 5-2 elimination.

This marks the first time Bodø/Glimt have reached the Champions League round of 16, a monumental achievement for the club from a small Norwegian town. The triumph highlights tactical brilliance and resilience over financial disparity—Bodø/Glimt's squad valuation is reportedly a fraction of Inter's, with some noting key Inter players individually worth more than the entire Norwegian team.The result has sent shockwaves through European football, with pundits calling it "hugely embarrassing" for Inter and one of the competition's greatest-ever upsets. Bodø/Glimt now prepare for tougher challenges ahead, proving that in modern football, money doesn't always guarantee success.