The Major Victors
Bodø/Glimt’s 2-1 victory over Inter at the San Siro has continued to embody the magic of this season. In the aftermath, Inter coach Cristian Chivu and his Norwegian counterpart Kjetil Knutsen exchanged mutual respect, recognizing that Bodø/Glimt had outperformed the Serie A leaders. Despite Inter missing their star player Lautaro Martínez, a comeback seemed plausible as they controlled the early moments of the match. However, they could not find a breakthrough and eventually succumbed to the swift and high-caliber attacking play that left them with a 3-1 deficit from the first leg match.
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“The toughest part was creating an opportunity,” shared Inter’s Nicolò Barella, reflecting on the prolonged effort leading up to Jens Petter Hauge’s sixth goal of the competition, followed by Håkon Evjen’s stunning strike that ensured their advancement.
Related: A Glimt in the eye: if the plucky Norwegians can do it, why can’t we? | Max Rushden
“We gave it our all,” Chivu remarked. Much like Manchester City and Atlético Madrid before them, Inter were left astonished by a team that has staked its claim as the best from Scandinavia since IFK Gothenburg won two UEFA Cups in the 1980s and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1986.
Galatasaray advanced to the last 16 thanks to extra-time goals from Victor Osimhen and Barış Alper Yilmaz against Juventus. The match became a memorable encounter that nearly transformed into a remarkable comeback. Juve struggled to overturn their 5-2 first-leg deficit, largely due to Lloyd Kelly’s dismissal, a decision controversially made by the video assistant referee after the on-field official had already given a second yellow card. The rationale behind this decision was contentious, as Kelly appeared to inadvertently collide with Yilmaz. The English player thought VAR might intervene on his behalf but exited in frustration just as Weston McKennie equalized the tie at 5-5. Unfortunately for Juventus, they ran out of steam, suffering a third red card in their past four matches.
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Earlier on Wednesday, Atalanta showcased Serie A’s resilience with a convincing 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund. Down 2-0 from the first leg, Atalanta remained hopeful, having seen Italian teams consistently make it to the last 16 since the 1987-88 season. In Bergamo, Mario Pašalić scored to give Atalanta a 3-2 aggregate lead, only for Karim Adeyemi’s exquisite goal to push the match toward extra time. The conclusion was peculiar: Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini was sent off after unintentionally striking Atalanta’s Nikola Krstović while attempting a backheel flick in the penalty area. With Atalanta’s usual penalty takers substituted, Lazar Samardžić took charge in the ninth minute of injury time and converted the penalty to preserve the pride of Italian calcio.
José Mourinho now faces the disappointment of losing his last ten Champions League knockout ties. Watching from the team bus, due to a ban following a red card in the first leg, the tides turned against his side as Benfica struck first at the Santiago Bernabéu. Rafa Silva’s goal initially stunned a sluggish Real Madrid, but Aurélien Tchouaméni responded with a long-range effort. Ultimately, Vinícius Júnior sealed a tense match in the 80th minute, putting the finishing touch on a tie that concluded in relative tranquility. The controversy from the first leg, where Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni faced accusations of racially abusing Vinícius, may linger. “Mourinho and I felt the same: a mix of frustration and pride,” noted Benfica’s assistant coach, João Tralhão, while Mourinho’s thoughts remain unspoken, at least for now.
Player of the Week
It was a standout performance from Alexander Sørloth, the former Bodø/Glimt loanee, who netted a hat trick for Atlético Madrid, eliminating Club Brugge from the competition. Sørloth is likely to partner up with Erling Haaland at the upcoming World Cup. Despite a somewhat nomadic career reputation, he has successfully found his place in a reinvigorated Diego Simeone squad. This hat trick marked Sørloth’s fifth goal over two matches, following a double against Espanyol over the weekend. They said it
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“There are times when we lose our sharpness, and getting back to our best is challenging.” Luis Enrique expressed relief after Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-2 draw with Monaco, which saw Mamadou Coulibaly receive a harsh red card and squander a crucial chance to equalize when Wout Faes failed to convert a header. Ultimately, the defending champions advanced 5-4 on aggregate but still seem unconvincing, struggling to match last season’s form.
The Pundit’s Perspective
“Italian teams often play at a slower pace. When they face opponents who press and run, they seem unprepared for the speed and may falter under pressure. In Serie A, as soon as the pace picks up, they often dive or succumb to fouls, which lead to these outcomes. Unfortunately, we operate at a slower pace, which makes it difficult to be a threat.” Champions League-winning coach Fabio Capello analyzed the Serie A struggles following Inter’s exit on Sky Italia.
Looking Forward
The last 16 draw is scheduled for Friday in Nyon, Switzerland. The playoffs, often referred to as the “punishment round” by some insiders, have set the stage for exciting matchups. Paris Saint-Germain could meet either Barcelona or Chelsea, while Galatasaray will face one of Liverpool or Tottenham, with their interim coach Igor Tudor having previously managed the Turkish side.
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Manchester City might face familiar rivals: Real Madrid, with whom they’ve battled many times recently, or Bodø/Glimt, who stunned them back in January. There’s also the possibility of an all-English matchup between Newcastle and Chelsea as well as an all-German clash featuring Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.