Biggest mismatch in Champions League history? Bodø/Glimt shock last term's finalists Inter Milan

©TM/IMAGO

Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt have made history this Tuesday and with it send shockwaves throughout European football. The Eliteserien side, aptly nicknamed Superlaget (“the Super Team”) made the daunting trip to the San Siro to face Inter Milan in the second leg of their Champions League knock-out tie. To the surprise of many, Kjetil Knutsen’s team picked up a very impressive 3-1 victory in front of their own fans last week, following goals from Jens Petter Hauge and Kasper Høgh. They followed that up with a 2-1 win at the San Siro to win the tie 5-2 on aggregate. The population of Bodo is less than the capacity of the Italian giant's stadium.

Club Comparison

Inter Milan

FK Bodø/Glimt

Serie A

Eliteserien

€666.80m

Market Value

€57.13m

First Tier

League Level

First Tier

€96.60m

Expenditures 25/26

€6.00m

Cristian Chivu

Managers

Kjetil Knutsen

Full Club Comparison

While the Norwegian side have built up something of a reputation for causing upsets at their stadium, when opposing teams reluctantly make the trip north of the Arctic Circle, the win over Inter undoubtedly takes Bodø/Glimt to new heights in European football. Knutsen’s side are well versed in Europa League success, having reached the semi-finals of the competitions last season, but knocking out Inter Milan this Tuesday was the first time in the club’s history that they’ve won a knock-out tie in the Champions League. And, to no great surprise, it is one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history too. Bodø will now play either Manchester City, who they have already beaten this season, or Sporting in the round of 16.

Indeed, when we tally up the biggest mismatches in the history of the top-tier European competition based on the difference in squad market values between the two clubs in a knock-out tie where the minnows won the game, we find that last Tuesday’s clash between Bodø/Glimt and Inter in Norway is actually the sixth biggest mismatch in Champions League history. As we can see in the table above, Inter’s squad market value of €667.3 million and Bodø/Glimt’s squad market value of just €57.1m means there is a €610.2m difference in perceived quality between the players Knutsen has at his disposal and his opposite number, Cristian Chivu, can call upon.

Click here to read article