Last year’s finalist Inter out
©IMAGO
Failed miserably against the outsiders from Norway: Inter Milan sensationally failed in the playoffs against Bodø/Glimt, just nine months after reaching the final. “The Champions League ends in disgrace,” headlined the Italian sports newspaper “Gazzetta dello Sport.” “They were better than us,” admitted Italy international Nicolo Barella.
With 1:2 in the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium at home and 1:3 in Norway, the end for Inter was pretty clear. “You have fulfilled your task,” acknowledged Germany international Yann Bisseck. “We are disappointed, but tomorrow is a new day.” And Inter’s coach Cristian Chivu summed up: “We tried everything. We played against a very well-organized team that had ten men behind the ball, and the longer we couldn’t score a goal, the more confident they became. I can’t blame my players, they really gave it their all. They could perhaps have had a little more energy. We couldn’t break the spell in the first half, and they scored twice in the second half. The disappointment is great because we really wanted to progress, but we were playing against a team who was organized, determined and energetic and deserved to be included.”
Champions League 2025/26: Serie A threatens disaster
Wednesday could bring further bitter setbacks for Italian football. In addition to Inter, Atalanta Bergamo (0:2 at Borussia Dortmund) and Juventus Turin (2:5 at Galatasaray) are also facing elimination in the playoffs. Masters SSC Napoli couldn’t even qualify for the knockout round. The probability is not small that no team from the proud Serie A will be in the round of 16 of the premier class. In the World Cup qualification, Norway was also superior to the 2006 world champions with two clear successes. The Squadra Azzurra has to go into the playoffs, while Erling Haaland and Co. have secured their starting place. “Mamma mia! Now Italians have nightmares about Norway,” cheered the Norwegian newspaper “Aftenposten” after the next coup on Tuesday evening.
The situation at Bodø/Glimt is completely different. For the first time, the team from northern Norway is in the round of 16 and can look forward to Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the round of the best 16. The draw will take place on Friday (12 p.m.) in Nyon (Switzerland). “It sounds unbelievable, but we’re there,” cheered goal scorer Jens Petter Hauge. “It’s fantastic what we’ve achieved. It’s really great.” The offensive player played for Inter’s local rivals AC Milan in the 2020/21 season. He then moved to Eintracht Frankfurt before moving to Bodö/Glimt in January 2025 after several loan deals.
Bodø/Glimt: Strong record against top teams
However, the Norwegians’ sensational run did not come completely out of nowhere. In the league phase of the Champions League, coach Kjetil Knutsen’s team set the highlights especially in the final phase. In Dortmund the team earned a deserved 2:2, then made it into the playoffs with two furious performances against Manchester City (3:1) and Atlético Madrid (2:1). Inter Milan was no obstacle there. The impressive record: five games against top European teams, four wins and one draw.
