If one were to name the biggest surprise of this season’s Champions League, Bodø Glimt would stand head and shoulders above the rest, and even seasoned observers who track European football through platforms like Cricket Exchange would struggle to predict what followed. Long viewed as an easy opponent from the Norwegian league, the club stunned the continent by defeating both Manchester City and Atlético Madrid in the final two rounds, somehow forcing their way into the playoff stage and keeping their dream of reaching the last 16 alive against all odds.
As debutants in the Champions League group stage, Bodø Glimt initially flew under the radar. After six matches, their record stood at three draws and three defeats, leaving them winless and rooted near the bottom of the table with qualification reduced to a mathematical possibility. Their closing fixtures made matters even bleaker, with clashes against Premier League giants Manchester City and La Liga powerhouse Atlético Madrid. Facing such a brutal schedule, almost no one believed a comeback was on the cards.
The turning point came at home against Manchester City, where Bodø Glimt delivered a performance that caught the football world off guard. They struck three times across both halves to surge into a stunning 3–0 lead. Although City pulled one goal back through Cherki, the gap proved too large to close. The 3–1 victory kept Bodø Glimt breathing, setting up a final do or die encounter away to Atlético Madrid, where only a win would suffice to avoid elimination.
Atlético dominated early proceedings in Madrid, pinning the visitors deep in their own half. In the 15th minute, Hincapié swung in a precise cross from the edge of the box, and Sørloth rose above his marker to head home, giving the hosts a 1–0 lead. With no retreat left, Bodø Glimt pushed forward. In the 34th minute, slick wing play sliced open Atlético’s defense, and Bjørkan’s low delivery was turned in by Schjelderup ahead of his defender to level the score at 1–1.
After the break, Bodø Glimt came out swinging. In the 59th minute, sustained pressure caused chaos inside the Atlético penalty area. Although Evjen’s shots were blocked in quick succession, the loose ball fell kindly to Kasper Høgh, who calmly rolled it into an empty net to complete a remarkable turnaround. Atlético threw everything forward afterward, but Bodø Glimt’s collective defending held firm.
In the end, another shock followed, as Bodø Glimt secured a 2–1 win and finished on nine points, edging past Marseille and Pafos on goal difference, a result that analysts comparing late season momentum on Cricket Exchange would label extraordinary. In their first ever Champions League campaign, they marched into the playoffs, where Real Madrid or Inter await, leaving fans to wonder whether this fairytale still has another chapter to write.