The Story of Bodo/Glimt: From a 99% chance of Elimination to 5 Giant Killings In a Row

The Story of Bodo/Glimt: From a 99% chance of Elimination to 5 Giant Killings In a Row

Few European football stories are as dramatic as the rise of Bodø/Glimt, a small club from north of the Arctic Circle that stunned the continent with one of the most remarkable underdog runs in modern football

Under the continued guidance of Kjetil Knutsen, Glimt entered the competition with a reputation already forged in the Europa Conference League and Europa League. Europe knew they were fearless. But the Champions League is a different level: tactically ruthless, financially imbalanced, and psychologically unforgiving. After five matchdays, Bodø/Glimt had just two points.

Elimination felt inevitable for this side, as progression required perfection. They sat on 2 points after 5 games, sitting on the brink of a group stage exit. Yet once again, Bodø/Glimt refused to behave like underdogs.

Bodo Glimt - can we play these big clubs every week pic.twitter.com/xyWO7JrMi3

— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) February 18, 2026

How Did Bodø/Glimt Turn Two Points Into Nine?

After five matchdays, the table painted a bleak picture. Two draws, three defeats, and defensive frailties against elite transitions left Bodø/Glimt staring at an early exit. Their trademark high press had been bypassed too easily. Fullbacks pushing forward left space behind. The intensity that overwhelmed opponents domestically looked slightly naïve against Europe’s sharpest attackers.

Manager Kjetil Knutsen refused to abandon the club’s identity. Instead, he refined it. Pressing triggers became more selective, initiated only when support angles were secure. The midfield three narrowed to protect central lanes, reducing exposure between the lines. The back line held a slightly deeper starting position, sacrificing a few metres of aggression for structural balance.

Matchday seven became the hinge of the campaign. With qualification hopes hanging by a thread, Glimt delivered their most controlled European performance of the season, beating Manchester City 3-1 at home. The game marked a change in their season; they would not look back. From two points in five games, they moved to five in six and were looking at those playoff spots.

The final fixture carried equal weight. , the scenario was clear: win, and qualification was possible. Anything less would end the dream. Away from home and under pressure, Bodø/Glimt displayed a new composure. Rather than chasing the game frantically, they managed phases intelligently. They absorbed spells of possession in compact mid-blocks and struck decisively when space emerged. The winning goal came with half an hour left on the clock. The second half was a masterclass in game management, compact lines, intelligent fouls when necessary, and disciplined transitions. The final whistle confirmed victory. Moments later, confirmation arrived that nine points were enough to progress, with a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid.

Seven points from their final three games. Two wins when they had no margin for error. From two points and near elimination to a place in the knockout play-offs. Momentum had shifted dramatically. And waiting on the other side of qualification was one of Europe’s giants, Inter Milan.

Stop that Bodo Glimt. pic.twitter.com/KfBqYhtw2C

— Stop That Football (@stopthatfooty) February 25, 2026

Five Straight Wins and the Fall of Inter

The play-off draw paired Bodø/Glimt with Inter Milan, a club synonymous with European pedigree, who reached the final last season. For many observers, the Norwegian side’s late surge had already exceeded expectations. Facing Inter seemed a bridge too far. Instead, it became the defining chapter of their campaign.

The first leg at Aspmyra was played at relentless intensity. Glimt pressed high, but now with structure refined through adversity. Inter attempted to control tempo through patient build-up, yet passing lanes were crowded and angles restricted. Midfielders stepped aggressively into duels, while wide forwards tracked back before exploding forward in transition.

The breakthrough encapsulated their evolution: a coordinated press forcing a turnover, followed by swift vertical progression and a clinical finish. Rather than retreat after taking the lead, Bodø/Glimt maintained controlled aggression. They balanced risk and restraint, attacking half-spaces while ensuring defensive cover. They nicked a 2nd and 3rd within 3 minutes of each other and had one foot in the last 16. But the greater test lay in Milan.

At the San Siro, the atmosphere was imposing. Inter pressed early, pushing wing-backs high and seeking to overwhelm Glimt with sustained pressure. In previous seasons, such an environment might have triggered anxiety. This time, composure prevailed. The Norwegians defended in compact layers. Distances between units were tight, limiting space between lines. Clearances were directed toward specific outlets rather than launched aimlessly. When possession was regained, they transitioned with precision.

Midway through the second half came the defining moment of the tie. They nicked 2 goals in 15 minutes and had a 5-1 lead on aggregate, making Milan their own. Silence descended. Inter pushed desperately for a response, netting a goal, but Bodø/Glimt’s structure held. They slowed the tempo intelligently, disrupted rhythm, and defended with collective discipline. When the final whistle confirmed another victory, disbelief turned into admiration across Europe.

Bodo/Glimt the moment they face a big club
pic.twitter.com/3cqFEXgNnh

— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) February 18, 2026

Five consecutive Champions League wins. Inter Milan defeated home and away.

From two points in five games to eliminating continental royalty.

What made the run remarkable was not merely the results but the psychological resilience underpinning them. Many teams collapse under early setbacks at this level. Bodø/Glimt recalibrated. They identified structural weaknesses and corrected them without sacrificing identity. They embraced pressure rather than shrinking from it. Knutsen’s continuity proved decisive.

The early group-stage defeats exposed vulnerabilities, but they also accelerated growth. By the time they faced Inter, the team that had once looked slightly overwhelmed now appeared tactically complete. The 2025/26 campaign will be remembered for its arc. Two points from five matches. Nine points to secure qualification. Five straight wins. Two historic victories over Inter Milan. And in doing so, they reminded the continent that momentum, once ignited, can carry even the smallest of challengers past the grandest of names.