Bodo/Glimt held off a concerted comeback effort from Inter Milan to earn a place in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 for the first time with 5-2 aggregate win.
Former AC Milan attacker Jens Petter Hauge was again on target as the Norwegian outfit booked their last-16 spot with another eye-catching result against the three-time European champions.
The visitors had to soak up incessant Nerazzurri pressure for much of the opening hour, but there was no looking back after a close-range finish from Hauge and Håkon Evjen’s classy strike gave them a four-goal cushion.
The hosts upped their intensity late on. Manuel Akanji swept Federico Dimarco’s cutback onto the upright and then Alessandro Bastoni prodded in to cut the deficit, but there was no denying Kjetil Knutsen’s side a famous victory.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United also reached the last 16 with a 3-2 win over Qarabag. They will face either Chelsea or Barcelona after coming through one of the highest-scoring ties in Champions League history.
Already holding a 6-1 first-leg lead, the Magpies quickly stretched their advantage courtesy of goals from Sandro Tonali and Joelinton inside the opening six minutes.
The second half brought more early action as Camilo Duran and Sven Botman exchanged goals 100 seconds apart, before Elvin Jafarguliyev turned in the rebound after Aaron Ramsdale saved Marko Janković’s penalty. Both sides kept pushing, but there was no advance on 12 goals across the tie.
It’s a massive achievement from us to get to the last 16. Nothing was given to us at the start of this Champions League run. We’ve really enjoyed it, and then coming to the pressure game, the double-header, I think we’ve navigated that really well.
Leverkusen advance to last 16
Leverkusen progressed to the Champions League round of 16 after a goalless draw with Olympiacos, comfortably protecting its first-leg cushion at home.
The German side entered the return match holding a two-goal advantage thanks to Patrik Schick’s earlier brace, allowing coach Kasper Hjulmand to prioritize control over attacking urgency.
Leverkusen dominated the opening minutes and fashioned the first clear chances, yet their finishing lacked precision, reports Xinhua.
Schick was twice involved early, first sending a header narrowly wide and then failing to lift the ball cleanly over goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. Jonas Hofmann had already tested the Greek keeper from a tight angle, but the hosts gradually eased off the tempo as they focused on game management.
Olympiacos struggled to inject intensity despite brief spells of pressure. Their best opportunity arrived shortly after the restart when Gelson Martins forced Janis Blaswich into a sharp save from a narrow angle. Leverkusen responded calmly and nearly struck themselves.
A quick exchange between Ernest Poku and Alejandro Grimaldo opened space in the 62nd minute, but the Spaniard’s effort rattled the crossbar instead of sealing the tie. From there the contest faded into a low-key finish, with the visitors unable to break through Leverkusen’s well-organized back line.
Schick almost added a late winner deep in stoppage time, but his attempted chip drifted off target. The stalemate nevertheless comfortably sent Leverkusen into the last 16, where they will face either Bayern Munich or Arsenal. Olympiacos, by contrast, exited the competition.
Sorloth’s hat-trick take Atletico Madrid in last 16
Alexander Sorloth was the hero for Atletico Madrid as the powerful striker scored a hat-trick to see his side past a valiant Club Brugge, who, especially in the first half, gave Atletico problems.
Sorloth and Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, with several important saves, made the difference between the two sides in Atletico’s 4-1 win on the night to take a 7-4 aggregate triumph.
The first key moment in the game came after 13 minutes when Atletico forward Giuliano Simeone went down after a challenge from Simon Mignolet, but the ball was already out of play when the contact happened so no penalty was given, reports Xinhua.
Club Brugge was impressing and a neat move ended with Christos Tzolis linking with Hans Vanaken to feed Hugo Vetlesen whose shot beat Oblak, but was headed off the line by David Hancko.
Carlos Forbs then created another chance after beating Atletico left back Matteo Ruggeri, but just when Atletico was under the most pressure, Sorloth opened the scoring when he ran onto a long clearance from Oblak, got in behind the defense and scored with a left-foot shot that went underneath Mignolet.
Sorloth’s goal opened the game up again with Simeone heading just wide and Marcos Llorente was close to setting up the striker for a second, before Club Brugge levelled after a corner with Joel Ordonez heading into an empty net after the ball was flicked on at the near post.
Oblak then kept the score level with a miracle save to block Tzolis’ diving header, which looked destined for the back of the net.
The second half was only two minutes old when Johnny Cardoso put Atletico ahead for the fourth time in the tie; a weak clearing header fell at his feet and he beat Mignolet with a low drive that the goalkeeper didn’t see until it was too late.
Atletico was more willing to drop deep after that goal and force the Belgian side to try and make the play, while Sorloth continued to chase every ball in attack.
His efforts were rewarded with his second goal of the night in the 76th minute after an attack involving Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman ended with Lookman’s shot falling kindly for him to score from close range.
Sorloth’s hat-trick came four minutes from time when he popped up at the far post to volley past Mignolet after a short corner routine saw Ruggeri send over the cross.
Atletico will play either Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool in the last 16.