Inter Milan’s Champions League Run Halted by Bodø/Glimt

Inter Milan, last season’s Champions League runner-up, suffered a stunning defeat in the Champions League play-offs, eliminated by Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt with an aggregate score of 5-2. The first leg in Norway ended 3-1 in favor of Bodø/Glimt, and Inter failed to overcome the deficit, losing the second leg 2-1 at the San Siro, resulting in a 5-2 aggregate loss.

First Leg Shocker in Norway

The upset began on February 18, 2026, at the Aspmyra Stadion in Norway, where Bodø/Glimt defeated Inter Milan 3-1. Inter.it reported that the Nerazzurri struggled in the freezing conditions. Sondre Brunstad Fet opened the scoring for the hosts in the 20th minute, and Francesco Pio Esposito equalized for Inter in the 30th minute. However, Jens Petter Hauge (61st minute) and Kasper Høgh (64th minute) quickly restored Bodø/Glimt’s lead with two goals in rapid succession.

Inter’s Lautaro Martinez nearly scored early in the second half, hitting the post, but the team couldn’t uncover a response to Bodø/Glimt’s physicality. The starting lineups were as follows:

• Bodø/Glimt (4-3-3): Haikin. Sjøvold, Bjørtuft, Gundersen, Bjørkan; Evjen, Berg, Brunstad Fet; Blomberg, Høgh, Hauge.
• Inter (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Sucic, Barella, Mkhitaryan, Carlos Augusto; Lautaro, Esposito.

Failed Comeback at San Siro

Hoping to overturn the first-leg deficit, Inter hosted Bodø/Glimt at the San Siro on February 24, 2026. However, the Norwegian side continued their impressive run, securing a 2-1 victory and a 5-2 aggregate win. Yahoo Sports detailed Inter’s struggles, noting that Lautaro Martinez was sidelined with a soleus injury sustained in the first leg, ruling him out for a month.

Despite early pressure from Inter, Bodø/Glimt held firm. The match saw several near misses from Inter, with Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni both heading just over the bar. Inter’s efforts proved insufficient, and Bodø/Glimt advanced to the round of 16.

Bodø/Glimt’s Historic Run

Bodø/Glimt’s victory over Inter marks another significant upset for the Norwegian club, which has already defeated Manchester City at home and Atletico Madrid away in this season’s Champions League competition. The Associated Press highlighted the club’s surprising success, establishing them as a formidable opponent in European football.

The result represents a major disappointment for Inter Milan, who were aiming to build on their run to the Champions League final last season.

Aggregate Score

Bodø/Glimt 5 – 2 Inter Milan