Bodo/Glimt achieved one of the most significant upsets in UEFA Champions League history by delivering an outstanding performance across two legs, eliminating last season’s finalists, Inter Milan, from the knockout stage on Tuesday.
After securing a 3-1 victory at home in the first leg, the Norwegians duplicated that success at San Siro, winning 2-1 to advance to the round of 16, where they will face either Manchester City or Sporting CP.
Bodo/Glimt has already demonstrated their ability to compete with top clubs, having defeated City 3-1 during the group stage this season, following their impressive win over Champions League veterans Atlético Madrid.
– The secret behind Bodo/Glimt’s European success
– Back at the Bernabéu: Could Mourinho coach Real Madrid again?
– How Shakhtar keeps signing Brazilians amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict
Remarkably, the Champions League constitutes the only three competitive matches Bodo/Glimt has played in 2026 so far, as their domestic season concluded in November to avoid the harsh winter months.
Describing Bodo/Glimt’s achievement as monumental is an understatement—yet how does their elimination of the three-time champions Inter compare to other iconic Champions League upsets?
1997-98: Monaco vs. Manchester United (1-1 on aggregate, Monaco win on away goals)
In a stunning display, Monaco stunned Old Trafford in the second leg of the 1997-98 quarterfinals, scoring an early goal to take an unexpected lead against the Premier League giants. With the first leg ending in a goalless draw, David Trézéguet netted shortly after halftime, leaving Manchester United needing to find two goals to advance. Despite a spirited effort from Sir Alex Ferguson’s team featuring stars like David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they could only manage one goal, resulting in disbelief among their fans.
Following a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Dynamo Kyiv advanced with a famous 2-0 win at the Olympic Stadium, knocking Real Madrid out of the Champions League quarterfinals in 1998-99. Young star Andriy Shevchenko scored all three of Dynamo’s goals over both legs, leading to his transfer to AC Milan the next season after becoming the tournament’s top scorer.
2003-04: FC Porto vs. Manchester United (3-2 agg.)
Porto secured a 2-1 win at home in the first leg against United, and a vital equalizer from Costinha in the second leg at Old Trafford sealed United’s fate. The moment sparked memorable celebrations from Porto coach José Mourinho, whose sprint down the touchline became legendary in Champions League lore.
Deportivo La Coruña faced a daunting 4-1 deficit from the first leg of their quarterfinal against reigning champions AC Milan in 2003-04. Remarkably, they orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks in the tournament’s history in the second leg, scoring four unanswered goals from Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron, Alberto Luque, and Fran to win 5-4 on aggregate, though their run ended in the semifinals at the hands of Porto, the eventual champions.
2003-04: Monaco vs. Real Madrid (5-5 agg., Monaco win on away goals)
Real Madrid seemed on track for a comfortable progression after a 4-2 victory at home in the first leg of their 2003-04 quarterfinal match against Monaco. However, Monaco made a remarkable comeback in the second leg. Even after falling further behind due to Raúl’s goal, the Ligue 1 side responded with two goals from Ludovic Giuly and a header from Fernando Morientes (who was loaned from Madrid) to pull off a stunning aggregate win.
2005-06: Villarreal vs. Inter Milan (2-2 agg., Villarreal win on away goals)
Villarreal entered their first Champions League quarterfinal unbeaten in 11 matches but suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat at home to Inter in the first leg. Determined not to back down, Manuel Pellegrini’s side bounced back in the second leg, winning with a solitary headed goal from Rodolfo Arruabarrena to advance on away goals.
2011-12: Apoel Nicosia vs. Lyon (1-1 agg., Apoel win 4-3 on penalties)
In the 2011-12 round of 16, Lyon and Apoel exchanged victories, leading to a 1-1 aggregate score. The Cypriots, who had already bested teams like Zenit St Petersburg and Porto in the group stage, held their nerve during extra time. The ensuing penalty shootout saw goalkeeper Dionisios Chiotis deliver a heroics against Alexandre Lacazette and Michel Bastos, propelling Apoel into the quarterfinals.
2016-17: Monaco vs. Manchester City (6-6 agg., Monaco win on away goals)
In the 2016-17 round of 16, Manchester City believed they were close to advancing after a 5-3 first-leg victory over Monaco at the Etihad. However, Monaco shocked everyone by scoring three goals at Stade Louis II, which ensured a last-minute goal from Leroy Sané was insufficient for City’s progression.
2018-19: Ajax vs. Real Madrid (agg. 5-3)
After finishing second in their group behind Bayern Munich, Ajax faced a challenging round of 16 matchup against the formidable Real Madrid. Despite Marco Asensio‘s late goal sealing a first-leg victory for Madrid, Ajax roared back with a 4-1 second-leg win, stunning the Bernabéu and advancing at Madrid’s expense.
2019-20: Lyon 3-1 Manchester City
The COVID-19 pandemic led to all quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final of the 2019-20 Champions League being played in a single-leg format in Portugal. Despite Manchester City’s pursuit of their first Champions League title, Lyon took the early lead at Estadio José Alvalade and maintained it into the second half. Kevin De Bruyne managed to level the score, but Lyon responded with two late goals from former Fulham youth product Moussa Dembélé, finishing the tie in style.