10 Crazy Facts About Bodø/Glimt’s Sensational Champions League Run
Bodø/Glimt have knocked Inter out of the Champions League playoff round.
And yes — it still feels unreal.
The Norwegian side have just produced one of the most improbable sequences in modern European football. Here are 10 mind-blowing facts that explain why this story is bigger than just a knockout win.
They Beat Manchester City, Atlético and Inter — In a Row
In 2026 alone, Bodø/Glimt defeated:
- Manchester City
- Atlético Madrid
- Inter Milan — twice
Four matches. Four wins. All against European giants.
They won in Madrid and in Milan — in matches that directly decided qualification to the playoff round and then the Round of 16.
Perfect record. Perfect timing. Maximum pressure.
The Probability of This Run Was 0.032%
Yes, you read that correctly.
The chance of Bodø winning those four matches in a row was calculated at just 0.032% — thirty-two thousandths of a percent.
They were underdogs in every single game.
They won every single one.
34 Wins in 45 European Matches Since 2020
Since 2020, Bodø/Glimt have won 34 of their 45 European fixtures.
Most of those came in smaller competitions, but they still faced established names like:
- Lazio
- Besiktas
The Champions League stage? It didn’t intimidate them at all.
For Bodø, reputation means nothing.
€610 Million Cheaper Than Inter
The financial gap is absurd.
- Bodø/Glimt squad value: €57 million
- Inter squad value: €667 million
That’s a €610 million difference.
Inter have four players individually valued higher than Bodø’s entire squad:
- Lautaro Martínez
- Alessandro Bastoni
- Marcus Thuram
- Nicolò Barella
Bodø’s most valuable players?
Kasper Høgh and Fredrik Sjøvold — €8 million each.
They Haven’t Had a Proper Break Since January 2024
Because Norway operates on a spring-to-autumn league calendar, the domestic season overlaps with European competitions.
Since January 2024, Bodø have effectively had no full off-season.
Their real reset may only come in June — during the international tournament break. And even then, some players will leave for national team duty.
Fatigue? Apparently optional.
They Played Only European Matches Since November
From late November onward, Bodø played only European fixtures.
With the Norwegian league paused until March 6, many believed the new Champions League format — finishing the first phase in January — would hurt clubs without domestic rhythm.
Instead, Bodø adapted:
- Friendlies against Groningen and Diósgyőr in early January
- A crucial point vs Dortmund in December
- A winning streak from January onward
Even Inter’s head coach Cristian Chivu admitted the lack of domestic games may have worked in Bodø’s favor.
They Aren’t Even Norwegian Champions
Incredibly, Bodø finished second domestically behind Viking.
That means next season they won’t enter via the “champions path” in qualifying. Instead, they’ll start from the second qualifying round via the league path.
Unless, of course… they win the Champions League.
€52.5 Million Earned — And Counting
Preliminary estimates show Bodø/Glimt have already earned around €52.5 million in the 2025/26 season — excluding matchday revenue.
With another high-profile playoff home game secured, projections suggest total income could surpass €70 million.
For comparison:
That would be double what the club spent in the entire 2024 financial year before this European breakthrough.
The Champions League has transformed their economy.
First Norwegian Playoff Win Since 1987
Bodø/Glimt are the first Norwegian club since 1987 to win a knockout tie in Europe’s premier competition.
Back then, Lillestrøm eliminated Linfield in the European Cup before losing to Bordeaux.
This time, the level of opposition makes the achievement historic for Norwegian club football.
Opta Gave Them a 1.5% Chance — Now They’re Dreaming Bigger
Before Matchday 6 of the league phase, Opta gave Bodø just 1.5% probability of reaching the playoffs.
At one stage, their elimination probability stood at 98.5%.
Now?
According to 10,000 simulation models, they still have roughly 1% probability of reaching the final.
And after everything we’ve just seen… who dares to laugh at one percent?
A Cinderella Story — Or Something Even Bigger?
Bodø/Glimt are not supposed to be here.
They are not built to be here.
They are not priced to be here.
Yet here they are — eliminating giants, breaking models, rewriting history.
And maybe, just maybe, they’re not done yet.
Published by Patrick Jane
26.02.2026