Bodo/Glimt brought a fairy tale to life by defeating Inter.

Norway’s relatively unknown club, Bodø/Glimt, delivered one of the most stunning shocks in Champions League history on Tuesday night. At the iconic San Siro, the Norwegian side defeated last season’s runners-up, Inter Milan, 2-1, booking their place in the Round of 16.

Over the two legs of the knockout play-off, Bodø/Glimt triumphed 5-2 on aggregate. Their historic achievement came alongside other Round of 16 qualifiers: Newcastle United, Atlético Madrid, and Bayer Leverkusen.

The Arctic Circle club had already announced their intent in the first leg at home, winning 3-1 in Bodø, signalling that something extraordinary was on the horizon. At the San Siro, they delivered that promise. Inter, sitting at the top of Serie A, were seeking European redemption, yet Bodø/Glimt left them with no opportunity to stage a comeback.

The first half ended goalless. However, in the 52nd minute, Jens Petter Hauge stunned the San Siro crowd by putting Bodø/Glimt ahead. The goal came from a rebound after Ola Blomberg’s initial shot was blocked due to Manuel Akanji’s error. Seventy-two minutes in, Håkon Evjen doubled the lead, making it 5-1 on aggregate. Alessandro Bastoni scored for Inter in the 76th minute, but it was too little, too late.

Bodø/Glimt’s recent domestic record underscores their rapid rise. Despite missing out on the Eliteserien title to Viking Stavanger this season, they have now etched their name into European history. This is the furthest any Norwegian club has advanced in Europe’s premier competition since Rosenborg reached the Champions League quarter-finals in 1997.

Remarkably, Bodø/Glimt also became the first club outside Europe’s top five leagues to win four consecutive matches against teams from those elite competitions. Last month, they defeated Manchester City 3-1 at home, followed by a win over Atlético Madrid, and now a two-leg triumph over Inter.

Jens Petter Hauge reflected after the match, “This is unbelievable for us. We knew Inter were a very strong side—they played in the final last season.” Bodø/Glimt coach Kjetil Knutsen added, “Tonight is fantastic for the club, the players, the city, and for Norway. We are focused on improving performance, developing the team, and following our own method—that is key for us.”

The Champions League Round of 16 draw takes place this Friday, with Bodø/Glimt potentially facing Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City.

Key Knockout Play-Off Results

Bodø/Glimt’s success is made even more extraordinary considering Norway’s league season ended last November, with the new season not starting until mid-March. Achieving such a feat in the off-season highlights the team’s resilience and tactical discipline, while Inter suffer a second consecutive European heartbreak after last season’s 5-0 final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.