It was the month of August when the Bodo/Glimt made history and qualified for the Champions League for the first time. They did so after crushing Sturm Graz in the previous phase of the competition, showing vertical football and making their stadium, located in the Arctic Circle, a fortress.
The mere qualification for the final phase of the maximum continental competition could already be framed in the feat category. The Norwegian team already had warned of his potential in the Europa League in previous years, reaching the semi-finals of the last edition, but the Champions seemed another levela step perhaps too big for such a humble club.
What has happened in the following six months has disproved this theory and has left all of Europe with its mouth open. A semester that ended this Tuesday with Bodo/Glimt’s qualification for the round of 16 after leaving in the gutter, nothing more and nothing less, that to Inter Milan, European runners-up the last edition. A feat of incalculable proportions that may not have yet written its last chapter.
Inter, the latest ‘top’ victim of Bodo
Bodo/Glimt had already shown their credentials during the group stage, earning the nickname ‘giant killers’ of European football. The Norwegian team managed to score against Tottenham, the current Europa League champion, on the second day. However, three consecutive defeats left them with little chance of making the playoff.
Kjetil Knutsen’s team had to visit Borussia Dortmund, host City and travel to Madrid to close the Champions League phase against Atlético. It seemed impossible, but the team from the Arctic Circle tied at Signal Iduna Park (2-2), surprised the ‘citizen’ team at home (3-1) and attacked the Metropolitano (1-2) to get the ticket for the playoff in a miraculous way after finishing in 23rd position.
The draw led to a two-legged confrontation with Inter in the playoff. The undertaking seemed impossible, again. But the Norwegian team hit the table again eliminating the European runner-up. He won 3-1 in the Aspmyra Stadium to leave the Italian team on the ropes.
This Tuesday he completed the feat winning at the Giuseppe Meazza (1-2) and becoming the first Norwegian team to reach the round of 16.
The Bodo against the elements
There are several pieces of information that are necessary to contextualize the feat that this team is performing. First of all, it should be noted that he has his home in Bodo, a small city located north of the Arctic Circle where 53,000 people live.
The team plays at the Aspmyra Stadion, with a capacity that slightly exceeds the 8,000 locations and it has artificial grass. The freezing temperatures and the intensity of the fans have made this stadium a unique, different place, a true fortress for the Bodo that many in Europe they want to avoid visiting.
According to Transfer marketyour template has a total value of 57 million eurosa ridiculous figure if we compare it with that of the greats on the continent whom it has managed to surpass. Additionally, the team has a clear Norwegian stamp: 19 players are local.
To give more epicness to the story, the norwegian league ended in november. That is, the Bodo He has only played Champions League matches in the last three months.
Hauge, the star who closed the circle at San Siro
Its great star is Jans Petter Haugeone of the scorers of the magical night at San Siro. The ’10’ returned to what was his home with the team of his life. He scored, showed off and closed the circle.
And it is that Hauge left the Bodothe team of your life, with 21 years heading to Milan. The city’s ‘Rossonero’ team signed him when he was one of the promises of the European scene.
Jens did not catch on at Milan and went through Eintracht Frankfurt and KAA Gent before returning home, where he is living a fairy tale. has marked six goals in this Champions Leaguethe majority against important rivals (two against Tottenham, one against Borussia Dortmund, one against Manchester City and two against Inter).
The Norwegian star is accompanied by quality players such as midfielders Patrick Berg and Hakon Evjenauthor of a great goal in the second leg of the playoff against Inter. In addition, the team also has the Danish striker Casper Hoghwho has pleasantly surprised in this Champions League with four targets.
They are all led by Kjetil Knutsenone of the revelations of the benches in Europe. His Bodo is clearly a signature team. The Norwegian has been in office since 2018 and is one of the names behind the club’s growth.
In the round of 16 they are already waiting for the Manchester City, You already know how the Norwegians spend their time, or the Sporting Portugal. Let the next one happen, Bodo wants to continue adding epics to its history.
