Champions League Playoff (Feb 24, 2026): Bodø/Glimt Upsets The UCL 2025 Finalist, Inter And Progress To Round Of 16

Bodø/Glimt completed a historic upset at San Siro on 24 February 2026, defeating Inter Milan 2–1 on the night and 5–2 on aggregate. This victory made them the first Norwegian club to ever win a Champions League knockout tie.

Match Statistics

Despite Inter's overwhelming dominance in shots and possession, Bodø/Glimt's clinical counter-attacking proved decisive.

Statistic	Inter Milan	Bodø/Glimt
Goals	1	2
Possession	70.5%	29.5%
Total Shots	30	7
Shots on Target	7	5
Corner Kicks	16	1
Saves	3	4

Goals & Key Events

• 58' Goal (0–1): Former AC Milan winger 
  Jens Petter Hauge
   scored the opener, tapping in a rebound after Manuel Akanji's defensive error led to an initial shot being parried by Yann Sommer.
• 72' Goal (0–2): 
  Håkon Evjen
   effectively ended the tie with a precise finish from the center of the box, assisted by Hauge.
• 76' Goal (1–2): 
  Alessandro Bastoni
   pulled one back for Inter with a header from a corner (assisted by Ange-Yoan Bonny), but the Italians still required three more goals to force extra time.

Official Lineups

Inter manager Cristian Chivu rotated his squad, starting youngsters like Pio Esposito, while Bodø/Glimt stuck to their disciplined 4-3-3 formation.

Inter Milan (3-5-2):

• GK: 
  Yann Sommer
• DF: 
  Yann Bisseck
   (Dumfries 81'), 
  Manuel Akanji
  , 
  Alessandro Bastoni
• MF: 
  Luis Henrique
   (Diouf 62'), 
  Davide Frattesi
   (Bonny 62'), 
  Piotr Zielinski
   (Sučić 62'), 
  Nicolò Barella
  , 
  Federico Dimarco
   (Carlos Augusto 81')
• FW: 
  Marcus Thuram
  , 
  Francesco Pio Esposito

Bodø/Glimt (4-3-3):

• GK: 
  Nikita Haikin
• DF: 
  Fredrik Sjøvold
  , 
  Odin Bjørtuft
  , 
  Jostein Gundersen
  , 
  Fredrik Bjørkan
   (Aleesami 85')
• MF: 
  Håkon Evjen
   (Saltnes 81'), 
  Patrick Berg
  , 
  Sondre Brunstad Fet
• FW: 
  Ole Didrik Blomberg
   (Määttä 77'), 
  Kasper Høgh
   (Helmersen 77'), 
  Jens Petter Hauge

Match Officials:

• Referee: 
  Alejandro Hernández
   (Spain).
• Venue: San Siro (Stadio Giuseppe Meazza), Milan.

The 1-2 upset at the San Siro was a textbook case of clinical efficiency overcoming territorial dominance. Here is how the tactical match unfolded:

1. The Tactical Battles

Inter’s Cross-Heavy "Siege" vs. Glimt’s Low Block:

Inter attempted 16 corners and peppered the box with crosses, banking on their physical height advantage. However, Bodø/Glimt’s center-backs, Gundersen and Bjørtuft, remained incredibly disciplined, forcing Inter into low-quality long-range efforts (23 of Inter's 30 shots were from outside the box).

The Midfield Transition Trap:

Inter’s Barella and Zielinski pushed high to overload the final third. Bodø/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen exploited this by instructing Patrick Berg to trigger immediate vertical counters. The second goal came directly from this, catching Inter’s wing-backs too far upfield to track back.

The Akanji "Pressing" Problem:

Inter’s Manuel Akanji was tasked with stepping into midfield to create overloads. However, his uncharacteristic error in the 58th minute—losing the ball under light pressure—proved the turning point, as it allowed Glimt to strike while Inter's defensive shape was dismantled.

2. Key Players

Jens Petter Hauge (Bodø/Glimt) – The San Siro Specialist:

The Man of the Match. The former AC Milan man haunted his old rivals with a goal and an assist. His ability to carry the ball 40+ yards on the counter was the primary outlet for the Norwegian side.

Nikita Haikin (Bodø/Glimt) – The Wall:

While Inter’s shooting was often wayward, Haikin made 4 crucial saves, including a point-blank stop from Marcus Thuram in the first half that prevented Inter from gaining early momentum.

Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) – The Lone Resistance:

Aside from his 76th-minute goal, Bastoni was Inter’s most creative player, often acting as a "point guard" from defense. He completed the most passes in the final third but lacked a clinical finisher to reward his service.

Håkon Evjen (Bodø/Glimt) – The Engine:

Covered more ground than any player on the pitch. His late run for the second goal showed superior stamina compared to an Inter midfield that looked leg-heavy by the 70th minute.