Intro
Norwegian side stun Italians as English and Spanish clubs progress comfortably
Paris
Bodo/Glimt produced one of the most remarkable upsets in modern UEFA Champions League history, eliminating last season’s runners-up Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate after a 2-1 victory at San Siro, while Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also advanced to the last 16.
Bodo/Glimt, the modest outfit from north of the Arctic Circle, had stunned Inter with a 3-1 win in the first leg and survived early pressure in Milan before Jens Petter Hauge opened the scoring just before the hour mark. Hakon Evjen made it 2-0 on the night, effectively sealing the tie on aggregate, despite Alessandro Bastoni pulling one back for Inter.
The Norwegian side, winners of four Eliteserien titles in five years and runners-up last season, became the first team from Norway to reach the Champions League last 16 since Rosenborg in 1997. “It’s been unbelievable. Inter are a very strong team and played in last season’s final,” Hauge said. They will learn their next opponents on Friday, with either Sporting CP or Manchester City awaiting them.
Newcastle United overcame Qarabag 3-2 in the return leg after a 6-1 first-leg win, setting up a last-16 tie against either Chelsea or Barcelona. Eddie Howe praised his players, calling the aggregate win “fantastic” despite a tight second leg.
Atletico Madrid followed a 3-3 draw in Belgium with a 4-1 home victory over Club Brugge, powered by a hat-trick from Alexander Sorloth. Diego Simeone’s side now face Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool in the next round.
Bayer Leverkusen, after a 2-0 away win in Greece, drew 0-0 at home and will meet either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16.
Bodo/Glimt’s triumph marks a historic milestone and signals that even modest clubs can upset Europe’s elite.
