Bodo/Glimt are on the march within the Champions League after dumping out European giants Inter Milan, the most recent chapter in a exceptional rise for the tiny membership from the north of the Arctic Circle.
Kjetil Knutsen’s group reached the final 16 of the most important membership competitors on the planet with two wins over final yr’s overwhelmed finalists — a 5-2 mixture victory giving them the best consequence of their historical past.
“I feel it is an incredible night for the membership, for the gamers, for the city and likewise for Norwegian soccer,” mentioned Knutsen, who has been accountable for Bodo/Glimt since 2018.
“We’re not speaking about objectives, we’re speaking about the way to carry out and the way we will take steps and develop the gamers and the group. Now I feel that is extraordinarily essential.
“We’ve got our option to do it and that is actually essential.”
Tuesday’s triumph was their fourth straight win within the Champions League, with Manchester Metropolis and Atletico Madrid additionally falling within the last two league section matches, which allowed Bodo/Glimt to grab a spot within the knockout play-offs.
Bodo/Glimt have been solely promoted to Norway’s high tier, a contest which had been dominated for 3 a long time by Rosenborg of Trondheim, in 2017 however have since been topped nationwide champions in 4 of the final six seasons.
And since then, they’ve slowly risen up the home and European ranks, final season changing into the primary Norwegian group to play within the semi-finals of a significant European competitors with their run to the final 4 of the Europa League.
Earlier than this season, their finest consequence was beating Lazio on penalties within the quarter-finals of the Europa League earlier than being eradicated by Tottenham Hotspur.
However now, the group of no stars with a tiny price range have moved to an entire new degree with one in every of both Metropolis or Sporting of Portugal awaiting subsequent month.
Wanting ahead
Bodo/Glimt had beforehand been thought-about tough opposition attributable to their synthetic pitch and the continuously frigid circumstances at their 8,200-capacity Aspmyra Stadium.
However they’ve now added sturdy away performances to their armoury, with a strong defensive show on Tuesday permitting Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen to dish out two sucker punches.
“I at all times look ahead, in order that’s how we’re pondering. For me, historical past will not be so essential,” added Knutsen.
It was a impolite awakening for three-time winners Inter, whose stature and price range dwarf that of the Norwegians and who’re heavy favorites to win Serie A this season.
A pasting by the hands of Paris Saint-Germain might need coloured their final European marketing campaign however Inter acquired to that last by seeing off Bayern Munich and Barcelona in epic knockout ties.
Inter had a lot the higher within the first half however as soon as Hauge capitalized on Manuel Akanji inexplicably giving the ball away on the sting of his space, there was no means again for the Italians.
“We all know that the Champions League could be very aggressive, if a group reaches this stage of the competitors that signifies that they’re providing one thing,” mentioned Inter coach Cristian Chivu.
“They confirmed that in Dortmund, Madrid, in opposition to Metropolis and twice in opposition to us.”
Defeat to Bodo/Glimt was additionally symbolic after Norway swatted Italy apart twice in World Cup qualifying.
Italy faces the prospect of no group reaching the final 16 with Juventus and Atalanta trailing Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund, the most recent blow to the repute of a grand outdated footballing nation which has since fallen on onerous instances.
