Bodo Glimt defeated Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate to reach the UEFA Champions League round of 16, becoming the first Norwegian club since 1987 to progress from a knockout tie in the competition.
The Norwegian side secured a 2-1 win in the second leg at San Siro to complete the result. Inter Milan, three time European champions, required a victory by three clear goals to overturn the deficit but were unable to do so.
Inter began the match with early pressure. Inside the opening minutes, Federico Dimarco delivered a cross into the penalty area which Sebastiano Esposito headed narrowly over the crossbar. Davide Frattesi later saw a header saved, while Dimarco had an effort from the edge of the box tipped over by Bodo Glimt goalkeeper Nikita Haikin.
From the resulting corner, Frattesi’s header was cleared off the line. He then forced another save from Haikin, who produced a diving stop to keep the score level. Bodo Glimt created their first clear opportunity in the 36th minute when Hakon Evjen’s header required a recovery save from Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Inter maintained possession after the interval, but the visitors took the lead as the match approached the hour mark. Manuel Akanji lost possession in defence, allowing Ole Blomberg to shoot. Sommer parried the effort into the path of Jens Petter Hauge, who scored from close range.
Akanji later struck the post from a Dimarco cutback as Inter attempted to respond. However, Bodo Glimt extended their lead in the 72nd minute. Hauge played a through ball to Evjen, who controlled before finishing past Sommer.
Inter reduced the deficit through Alessandro Bastoni, who scored from close range, but the goal did not alter the outcome of the tie. Bodo Glimt managed the remaining minutes without conceding again.
The result marks a significant milestone for Bodo Glimt, who had not recorded a Champions League victory before January. A fourth consecutive win in the competition sends the club into the draw for the round of 16.
Inter Milan, who have won the European Cup on three occasions, exit the competition at the knockout stage and will now focus on domestic competitions, including Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
