Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale Champions League run ended in Lisbon as Sporting overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit with a stunning 5-0 win to advance 5-3 on aggregate.
The Norwegian debutants had shocked Europe with victories over Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan, but Sporting’s ruthless fightback proved too much.
“We played the occasion, not the game,” admitted coach Kjetil Knutsen.
From their Arctic fortress, Bodo/Glimt built a reputation for upsetting giants despite a modest €57m squad and an 8,500-seat stadium.
Their journey joins the ranks of great underdog stories, leaving them richer in both pride and prize money, around £40m, as they bow out with heads held high.
