Bodo/Glimt Champions League progress continued on Tuesday as the Norwegian club delivered one of the competition’s biggest surprises by eliminating Inter Milan at San Siro. The 2-1 win completed a 5-2 aggregate triumph that sent the Arctic Circle team into the last 16 in historic fashion.
The victory sealed a landmark moment for Norwegian football while Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also secured qualification on a busy Champions League night.
Bodo/Glimt stun Inter Milan with historic qualification
Bodo/Glimt entered the second leg with a 3-1 advantage from Norway and resisted Inter’s early pressure at San Siro before striking decisively in the second half.
Former AC Milan forward Jens Petter Hauge punished a defensive error by Manuel Akanji in the 58th minute, slotting in after Ole Blomberg’s initial effort was saved. Hakon Evjen added a second goal in the 72nd minute, making the aggregate score 5-1 and leaving Inter with little hope of recovery.
Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back for the Italian side, but it had no impact on the overall outcome.
Norwegian club reaches rare milestone
Bodo/Glimt became the first Norwegian team to advance this far in the Champions League since Rosenborg’s 1997 quarter-finals run. Their achievement is even more remarkable given that their domestic season has already ended and the squad is in off-season preparation. More than 3,000 supporters travelled to Milan to witness the upset.
“For us it’s been unbelievable. Inter are a strong team and finalists last season” Hauge said. The club will face either Sporting CP or Manchester City in the next round.
Newcastle advance after another strong performance
Newcastle United followed their 6-1 win in Azerbaijan with a 3-2 home victory over Qarabag at St James’ Park, sealing a 9-3 aggregate qualification.
Sandro Tonali and Joelinton scored inside the first six minutes before Qarabag narrowed the gap through Camilo Duran. Sven Botman restored a two-goal cushion for Newcastle, though Elvin Jafarguliyev added a late reply.
Coach Eddie Howe praised the team’s overall performance despite describing the second-leg result as “a bit of a hollow win.”
English clubs set up heavyweight clashes
Newcastle will now face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16 as English participation remains strong with six clubs still in the competition.
Sorloth hat-trick sends Atletico Madrid through
Atletico Madrid beat Club Brugge 4-1 in Spain after a 3-3 first‑leg draw, advancing 7-4 on aggregate.
Norwegian forward Alexander Sorloth scored a hat-trick, striking first after Jan Oblak’s long kick created an unexpected opening. Joel Ordonez equalised for Brugge before Johnny Cardoso restored Atletico’s advantage early in the second half.
Sorloth added two more goals, including a clinical finish after interplay by Ademola Lookman and Antoine Griezmann, bringing his season tally to 15.
Simeone pleased with progress
Diego Simeone said he was focused on “enjoying today’s win,” adding that reaching the last 16 remains important for the club. Atletico will next face either Liverpool or Tottenham.
Leverkusen complete controlled qualification
Bayer Leverkusen played out a 0-0 draw with Olympiacos in Germany to advance 2-0 on aggregate following their first-leg win in Greece.
The 2024 German champions now await a high-profile clash with either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the next round.
Conclusion:
The night delivered historic achievements, particularly for Bodo/Glimt, whose Champions League journey continues to capture European attention. With several heavyweight matchups set for the next round, the knockout phase promises more high‑level drama.
