Norwegian Bodo Glimt achieved a historic victory, knocking Inter Milan out of the Champions League after beating them back and forth, while Atletico Madrid clinched its qualification by beating Club Brugge of Belgium 4-1. Bayer Leverkusen and Newcastle also qualified, while Juventus and Atalanta remained facing a complicated return mission.
Published on: 02/25/2026 - 05:10 Last updated: 02/25/2026 - 07:55
Norwegian Bodo Glimt caused a resounding surprise in the European Champions League, by eliminating Italian Inter Milan, runner-up in the last edition of the 16th round, after repeating its victory over them in San Siro 2-1, to secure the pass with a score of 5-2, and to book a date in the next round with Manchester City of England or Sporting of Portugal.
The Norwegian champion's victory came thanks to a brace from Jens Petter Haug and Haakon Evin, against a late goal by Alessandro Bastoni, to consolidate the team's superiority over Inter after winning the first leg 3-1, in a new achievement in a remarkable process this season that also witnessed victories over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid.
This collapse dealt an additional blow to the image of the Italian clubs on the continent this season, as only Juventus and Atalanta were clinging to hope before the two difficult return matches, after the first fell to Galatasaray 5-2, and the second to Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the first legs.
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In Madrid, Norwegian Alexander Sorloth stole the show and led Atletico to victory over Club Brugge of Belgium, after he opened the scoring and then added two goals in the second half, while American Johnny Cardoso scored another goal for the hosts, versus a goal for the guests signed by Ecuadorian Joel Ordones, so Atletico translated their 3-3 first-leg draw into a well-deserved qualification.
On the other hand, German Bayer Leverkusen was content with a goalless draw with its Greek guest, Olympiacos, and benefited from its 2-0 victory in the first leg to advance to the last 16, achieving its first qualification from a two-match elimination match in the competition since reaching the final in 2002.
England's Newcastle also did not find it difficult to settle its mission against Azerbaijan's Karabakh, as it renewed its superiority with a 3-2 victory in the return leg after sweeping it 6-1 in the first leg, so that the Premier League representative continued his continental journey steadily.
France 24/AFP
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