Sporting Lisbon Reaches Champions League Quarterfinals After Stunning Comeback Against Bodø/Glimt

Sporting Lisbon staged a remarkable turnaround to defeat Bodø/Glimt 5-0 in extra time, securing a 5-3 aggregate victory and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Portuguese side will now face Arsenal in the next round.

Overcoming a First-Leg Deficit

Trailing 3-0 from the first leg in Norway, Sporting attacked relentlessly from the start. Gonçalo Inácio opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a header from Francisco Trincão’s corner. Pedro Gonçalves extended the lead in the 61st minute, finishing off a move started by Luis Suárez’s cross. Suárez then leveled the tie in the 78th minute, converting a penalty awarded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review for a handball.

Extra Time Decides the Tie

The match went to extra time, where Sporting quickly took control. Maxi Araújo scored just two minutes into the extra period, giving Sporting the lead on aggregate. Rafael Nel added a fifth goal in added time, sealing the victory and ending Bodø/Glimt’s Champions League run.

Bodø/Glimt’s Fairytale Run Ends

Bodø/Glimt, competing in their first Champions League campaign, had previously achieved impressive victories against Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, and Inter Milan. However, their fairytale run came to an end in Lisbon. Sporting became only the fifth team in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal first-leg deficit.

Arsenal Await in the Quarter-Finals

Sporting Lisbon will now face Arsenal in the quarter-finals. Arsenal secured their place after defeating Bayer Leverkusen 2-0, with goals from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice. Arsenal had previously defeated Sporting 5-1 in the league phase of the 2024 Champions League campaign. The first leg of the quarter-final tie will be played on April 7th or 8th, with the second leg following the next week.

Match Details

• Sporting Lisbon 5 – 0 Bodø/Glimt (AET)
• Aggregate Score: 5-3 to Sporting Lisbon
• Goals: Gonçalo Inácio (34′), Pedro Gonçalves (61′), Luis Suárez (78′ pen), Maxi Araújo (92′), Rafael Nel (121′)

Source: The Guardian, The Athletic