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Bodo/Glimt look to continue European fairytale and dump Italian giants out of the Champions League
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Going into last season's Europa League campaign, not many people outside of Norway had heard of Bodo/Glimt.
That was, however, until they got to the semi-finals of the competition, just missing out on a place in the final after losing to the eventual winners, Tottenham.
But now they are one game away from knocking out Inter Milan, who, not even nine months ago, were in the Champions League final.
How have we got here?
Bodo/Glimt are still in their off-season after finishing their league campaign at the back end of last year. Since their season has finished, they've defeated sides like Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to progress through the league phase in 23rd place and were rewarded with a tie against three-time European champions Inter Milan.
Going into their tie against Bodo/Glimt, Inter hadn't lost a match since being defeated by Arsenal on Matchday seven, and not making it to the round of 16 for a side of Inter's stature would be seen as a massive failure, yet they have it all to do if they are to avoid the upset in front of their home fans.
Not many outside the club gave the little team from Norway much of a chance against the Serie A leaders, but they ended up in dreamland after a dominant display six days ago, giving Inter Milan their worst nightmare.
Second-half goals from Jens Petter Hauge and Kapser Waarts Hogh gave Bodo/Glimt breathing room, even after Francesco Pio Esposito had cancelled Sondre Fet's opener to get the Nerazzurri back in the game.
The city, with a population of just 54,000 people, can go months in the winter without experiencing sunlight, while in the summer, the sun doesn’t set for weeks on end.
When Man City played there in January, the temperature dropped to -9. A few weeks later, against Inter, the Italians also struggled to cope with the freezing conditions, and thus gave Bodø/Glimt a huge advantage.
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Norwegian European History
No Norwegian team has ever made the final of a European competition, with Bodo/Glimt getting the furthest, reaching the semi-finals of the 2024-25 Europa League, defeating sides like Olympiacos and Lazio along the way.
This century, only Bodo/Glimt have reached the quarter finals of any European competition, alongside their European journey last year, having made the Quarter Finals of the Europa League in 2022.
Inter Milan's first-leg defeat to the minnows was just the second suffered by an Italian side against a Norwegian opponent in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League, after Milan's reverse against Rosenborg in December 1996.
What could impact the game?
It was evident early on last week at the Aspyrma that Inter weren't ready for the intensity and high press that Bodo/Glimt were going to bring on them, so they will either have to match their energy or nullify how the Norwegian side plays.
It'll likely be easier to play at a higher intensity this week, due to the conditions being kinder and without having to play on an artificial surface.
For Inter to move on, potentially facing Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, they are going to have to win by at least two goals to have a chance, forcing extra time with that margin, while a win of more than two goals sees them through, and a one-goal win, a draw, or a loss results in them crashing out.
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If Inter were to go out at this stage, it would be the earliest the Italian side had exited the Champions League since the 2021-22 season, in which they finished bottom in their group, and didn't even get dropped down to the Europa League.
It would be seen as a disappointment in the eyes of Inter fans and a fall from grace, after being finalists last year, to being knocked out by a side who are making its Champions League debut this season, and possibly more disappointing than the 5-0 drubbing they received in the final last season at the hands of PSG.
Full Champions League fixture list for knockout play-offs
Tuesday, 24 February
- Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge
- Bayer Leverkusen vs Olympiakos
- Inter Milan vs Bodo/Glimt
- Newcastle United vs Qarabag
Wednesday, 25 February
- Atalanta vs Borussia Dortmund
- Juventus vs Galatasaray
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Monaco
- Real Madrid vs Benfica
How to watch the Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge in the USA on DAZN
Soccer fans in the US can watch Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge in the Champions League in Spanish language as part of their DAZN subscription package.
An annual upfront payment is $224.99 , while paying monthly for 12 months is $19.99 and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
CBS has coverage of every Champions League match in English language this season. You can get more details and subscribe to CBS's Champions League coverage here.
Fans can watch extra Champions League games in Spanish on ViX. A selection of those matches are also available on UNIMÁS and TUDN.
How to watch the Champions League in New Zealand on DAZN
Every Champions League game during the 2025-26 season is streamed in high definition and comes as part of a DAZN subscription.
An annual subscription costs $14.99 per month for 12 months and also provides access to 185 fight nights a year across boxing, MMA, PFL, BKFC, Glory and much more.
How to watch the Champions League in Canada on DAZN
Watch every game of the Champions League this season in Canada with a DAZN subscription.
There are three subscription options, each offering a different selection of sports. Access to every Champions League match is included in all three package offerings, ranging from $29.99 to $44.99 per month (for 12 months)
