A united sports press tries to explain why Bodø/Glimt beats giant club after giant club in the Champions League with a total budget equivalent to what a Premier League star earns.
Bodø/Glimt beat Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league stage, and now Inter Milan in the knockout round. Bodø/Glimt just continue to defy the odds.
Read: Peaky Blinders returns: What we know so far about “The Immortal Man”
The Norwegian team, which is located about 70 miles north of the Arctic Circle, has gained a reputation for causing rebellion, but on Tuesday night in Milan they delivered one of the biggest in Champions League history.
With three times Inter Milan as their opponent – a team that was beaten by Paris St-Germain in the final of this tournament just over nine months ago – Bodø/Glimt had a daunting task, even though they led 3-1 from the first leg.
Nevertheless, they once again grew with the task – just as they had done when they beat Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the group stage.
It was another steadfast and determined performance by Italy to complete a double header against Cristian Chivu’s men, first fending off Inter’s numerous attacks in the first half, before scoring two goals and finally giving the Serie A leader too much to do.
With a 2-1 win for the evening, Bodø/Glimt secured a 5-2 aggregate victory and thus a place in the Champions League’s last eight for the first time, where they will face either Manchester City or Sporting.
“It’s a historic moment for Bodø, and I think also for Norwegian football,” coach Kjetil Knutsen said.
Jens Petter Hauge was once again inspiring, scoring his sixth goal of the tournament this season for the opening goal, before setting up Håkon Evjen’s beautiful finish for the second.
“It doesn’t sound true, but we’re there, among the last teams in the tournament,” added the winger, who was back at the San Siro where he had a two-year stint at AC Milan.
“It will be very exciting to see what the next two games bring.”
Bodø/Glimt are the first Norwegian team to advance from a knockout match in the Champions League, and the first overall in the European Cup since Lillestrøm in the first round in 1987-88.
The Norwegians are the first team outside of Europe’s five major leagues to win four straight games in a European Cup/Champions League season against opponents from these leagues (England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France) since Ajax in 1971-72, who went on to win the European Cup that season.
Read: In shock over Bodø/Glimt’s player salaries
Jens Petter Hauge has scored six goals for Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League this season; the most ever by a Norwegian player for a Norwegian club in a single edition of the European Cup/Champions League.
From the Arctic Circle to success at the San Siro
Bodø/Glimt’s home games out of season and sometimes early in it are often played in harsh winter conditions
This play-off adventure may have felt unlikely for Bodø/Glimt after they failed to win their first six league games, which meant they needed results against Manchester City and Atletico Madrid to qualify for the play-offs.
And against all odds, they delivered.
A 3-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s men brought well-deserved attention and recognition, but it was no one-off as Bodø/Glimt beat Atleti 2-1 in Madrid to secure a play-off spot.
Knutsen’s team lost to Tottenham in the Europa League semi-finals last season, after becoming the first Norwegian team to reach the semi-finals of a major European tournament.
The key to their success has often been their ability to make home games as difficult as possible.
In Northern Norway, Bodø can often be bitterly cold, snowy and windy during the long winter months, with temperatures far below zero.
The difficult weather conditions mean that the team plays on an artificial pitch made of plastic, which many teams that are used to playing on grass find difficult to handle.
These aspects, combined with the players’ determination and strong belief in their own skills, mean that many have left Bodø as losers.
They are famous for crushing Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 at home in the Europa Conference League five years ago, while Celtic, Besiktas, Porto and Lazio have also been victims in recent years.
Manchester City are unlikely to enjoy another meeting in the last eight if they are drawn together, with Bodø/Glimt in tailwind after proving that they have nothing to fear against Europe’s top teams.
“It’s amazing,” captain Patrick Berg told Canal+.
“For the club and the city, it’s unbelievable. I don’t think people thought we could beat Manchester City, Atletico and now Inter twice.
“It’s great.”
‘If we can do it, everyone can do it’
Bodø/Glimt supporters cheer against Inter Milan
This is a step into the unknown for Bodø/Glimt as they prepare to play in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time.
But the trip to the Europa League semi-finals last season will give them faith – and hope to all small clubs about what can still be achieved in UEFA’s major tournaments.
And no matter how long this journey lasts, they will be supported by the now familiar sight of their loud fans, who were inevitable at the San Siro, dressed in yellow and with their scarves raised in the air.
“I’m so proud, we’re a team from a small town,” Knutsen added.
“I really hope we show that if we can do it, then everyone can do it. For me, that’s the most beautiful thing about the whole story.”
