UCL Round of 16 is waiting for Bodo! Humiliated Inter say "Addio" to European elite

Last season’s Champions League finalists are out of the competition! Inter Milan fell short already at the first step following the league phase, as Bodo/Glimt slapped them in the face one more time. If they had a tiny excuse for a 3-1 defeat from six days ago in Norway because of low temperatures and an artificial surface, last night’s 2-1 defeat was inexcusable.

The Nerazzurri had possession dominance and significantly more shots (30 attempts and 16 corner kicks), but the visitors’ defence easily dealt with all their efforts, waiting for a chance to hand a lethal blow. It finally came in the 58th minute after Manuel Akanji’s colossal mistake, as the former AC Milan prospect Jens Petter Hauge broke the deadlock.

Fourteen minutes later, Hakon Evjen doubled the Norwegians’ lead, while Alessandro Bastoni’s 77th-minute consolation goal hardly reduced the damage and softened his team’s embarrassment.

As expected, from the beginning of the duel at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, it was clear that it would be a completely different match than the one from six days ago. Bodo/Glimt did stun Atletico in Madrid, but their home and away performances are still totally opposite sides of the same coin. Without their icy conditions and artificial surface, the Norwegians aren't the same team.

Hence, the ball was naturally much more in their half, constantly circulating around their area, but their net remained intact at the break.

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Davide Frattesi and Federico Dimarco had the best two opportunities for Inter, but Bodo/Glimt custodian Nikita Haikin - the goalkeeper with the most saves in the Champions League so far - reacted superbly on both occasions. The Nerazzurri made 12 attempts in the opening 45 minutes (four on target), but in vain.

On the other hand, Hakon Evjen's header, which Yann Sommer stopped, was the visitors' only notable attempt. Either way, things did not look good for the Serie A side at that point.

The game continued in the same rhythm after the break as well, and then Manuel Akanji took the leading role in Inter's horror movie. First, the ex-Manchester City centre-back suffered a head injury, and minutes following his return to the pitch, he made a horrendous mistake, handing the ball to Bodo/Glimt players right in front of the Nerazzurri box.

Ole Didrik Blomberg selfishly tried to score himself and Sommer stopped his strike, making a point-blank save. However, the ball deflected to the former AC Milan player Jens Petter Hauge, who easily sent the rebound into Inter's net, increasing the visitors' lead to 4-1 on aggregate in the 58th minute.

The home crew's boss Cristian Chivu immediately subbed on Ange-Yoan Bonny, Andy Diouf, and Petar Sucic, but the impression was that his team's Round of 16 ship had sailed. Still, the Italians refused to give up. In the 69th minute, Akanji could have slightly redeemed himself, but he hit the post from close range.

However, all Inter's hopes were definitely crushed three minutes later, when Evjen turned Bodo/Glimt's counterattack into a 2-0 lead, shocking the packed Stadio Giuseppe Meazza! And even though Alessandro Bastoni somehow pushed the ball over the visitors' goal line in the 77th minute, the fact that his team needed three more goals to survive left Inter no reason for optimism.

The Milan side kept attacking until the end of the clash, but failed to threaten Haikin's goal again. Inter suffered a historic blow and got humbled in the cruel manner, while Bodo/Glimt became the most pleasant surprise in European football this season. In the Champions League Round of 16, the Norwegian team will face either Manchester City (whom they had recently beaten 3-1) or Sporting Lisbon.

Can they continue writing history?

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS

Return leg

Tuesday

Atletico Madrid - Club Brugge 4-1 (1-1)

/Sorloth 23, 76, 87, Cardoso 48 - Ordonez 36/

Atletico Madrid win 7-4 on aggregate

Inter Milan - Bodo/Glimt 1-2 (0-0)

/Bastoni 77 - Hauge 58, Evjen 72/

Bodo/Glimt win 5-2 on aggregate

Bayer Leverkusen - Olympiacos 0-0

Bayer Leverkusen win 2-0 on aggregate

Newcastle - Qarabag 3-2 (2-0)

/Tonali 4, Joelinton 6, Botman 52 - Duran 51, Jafarguliyev 57/

Newcastle win 9-3 on aggregate

Wednesday

20.45: (2.15) Atalanta (3.50) Dortmund (3.60)

22.00: (1.53) Juventus (4.80) Galatasaray (5.95)

23.00: (1.25) PSG (6.50) Monaco (10.0)

23.00: (1.45) Real Madrid (4.50) Benfica (7.00)

***odds are subject to change***