Bodø/Glimt are no ordinary underdogs as they keep rewriting European football history.
On a dramatic Tuesday night at the San Siro, the Norwegian champions, based just 70 miles inside the Arctic Circle, completed one of the most astonishing upsets the UEFA Champions League has ever witnessed, knocking out three-time winners Inter Milan on their own turf.
Despite holding a 3–1 advantage from the first leg, Bodo/Glimt still faced a daunting task against a side that had reached the Champions League final just nine months ago, but once again, they refused to blink.
A 2–1 victory in Milan sealed a stunning 5–2 aggregate triumph, sending Bodo/Glimt into the Champions League last 16 for the first time in their history.
How Bodø/Glimt Outsmarted Europe to Reach the Last 16
Bodø/Glimt’s rise is no accident. Since winning their first Norwegian league title in 2020, they have claimed four championships in five seasons and become a consistent presence in European knockout football.
Along the way, they have defeated heavyweight opponents including AS Roma, Celtic, Beşiktaş, FC Porto and Lazio, underlining their growing European credibility.
This season, they pushed Manchester United close and later eliminated Lazio over two legs in the quarter-finals, one match played amid heavy Arctic snow.
First-Half Siege, Second-Half Statement
Inter, coached by Cristian Chivu, came out aggressively, launching wave after wave of first-half attacks in search of an early breakthrough but Bodo/Glimt held firm.
Organised, disciplined and fearless, the Norwegian side absorbed the pressure before striking decisively after the break, scoring twice to leave the Serie A leaders with too much ground to recover.
Inter managed a response, but it was never enough. By full-time, San Siro was silenced. Europe had a new giant-killer.
Hauge the Hero at the San Siro
The night once more belonged to Jens Petter Hauge.
The forward, who once spent two years at AC Milan, haunted familiar ground:
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Scoring the opening goal, his sixth of the Champions League campaign
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Assisting Hakon Evjen for a sublime second finish
Reflecting on the achievement, Hauge said:
“It sounds not true, but we are there, among the last teams in the competition. It will be really exciting to see what the next two games bring.”
Hauge is now the highest-scoring Norwegian player for a Norwegian club in a single Champions League season.
The Knutsen Effect
Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen was visibly emotional after the final whistle.
“It is a historical moment for Bodo and I think also for Norwegian football,” Knutsen said.
His belief in this group has never wavered and once again, it has been justified on Europe’s biggest stage.
At the heart of Bodø/Glimt’s success is head coach Kjetil Knutsen, whose attacking philosophy and emphasis on mental strength have transformed the club.
Knutsen has earned admiration across Europe and is now linked with potential Premier League opportunities.
A strong youth pipeline has also played a key role, with talents such as Jens Petter Hauge and Patrick Berg forming the backbone of the team since their title breakthrough.
Historic Night for Norway
Bodo/Glimt’s achievement is not just club history, it is national history.
They became:
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The first Norwegian club to win a Champions League knockout tie
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The first Norwegian side since Lillestrom in 1987–88 to progress in a European Cup knockout round
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The first team from outside Europe’s top five leagues to win four consecutive Champions League matches against opponents from England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France since Ajax in 1971–72
That Ajax side went on to win the European Cup.
From Relegation to Revelation
The club’s modern journey began in 2017, following relegation to Norway’s second division.
During that rebuilding phase, Bodø/Glimt turned to an unlikely figure, former Norwegian fighter, pilot Bjørn Mannsverk, to work on the squad’s psychological resilience.
That decision proved transformative. Mental strength became a cornerstone of the club’s identity, helping players thrive under pressure and embrace challenges rather than fear them.
From Frozen North to European Elite
This fairytale run looked impossible just months ago.
Bodo/Glimt failed to win their first six league-phase matches, leaving them needing results against giants:
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A famous 3–1 win over Manchester City
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A fearless 2–1 victory over Atletico Madrid in Spain
Those wins earned a playoff place and from there, the Inter miracle followed.
Last season, Knutsen’s side reached the Europa League semi-finals before falling to Tottenham Hotspur, becoming the first Norwegian club to reach the last four of a major European competition.
Now, they have gone even further.
Why Teams Fear to Play Bodo/Glimt at the Arctic
Bodo/Glimt’s home advantage remains one of the most brutal in Europe.
In northern Norway:
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Temperatures regularly fall deep below zero
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Matches are played on an artificial pitch due to snow and ice
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Winter conditions are unfamiliar and unforgiving for visiting teams
Clubs who have suffered there include:
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AS Roma (famously beaten 6–1)
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Celtic
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Besiktas
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Porto
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Lazio
Yet this Inter triumph proves Bodo/Glimt can win anywhere—even under the lights of San Siro.
Who Next? City or Sporting Await
Bodo/Glimt will now face either:
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Manchester City, or
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Sporting CP
