As far as I am concerned, there were only two real stories to emerge from the penultimate Tuesday night of the Champions League.
Sure, the champions of Portugal, Sporting Lisbon, saw off the champions of Europe, PSG; sure, Real Madrid hit six to leave themselves on the verge of qualification; and sure, following five straight defeats, Ajax now have two wins on the spin after a late goal at Villarreal.
But all the Champions League 2026 highlights really began with two teams – one who are among the favourites with the Champions League 2026 betting odds; the other who are true minnows.
And it is with the latter that the only place to start is.
In the Aspmyra Stadion in Bodo, Norway, a ground situated in a fishing village with a capacity of just over 8,000, one of the biggest ever upsets in European football history emerged.
Now, let me make it clear, as I predicted back in September, the group stage format introduced last season means the likes of Bodo/Glimt can’t legitimately compete against the big boys over eight games and five months.
However, their 3-1 victory over Manchester City, a club that has several players who cost more individually than Bodo/Glimt’s entire squad combined, is a magnificent tale.
And yes, it did bring back memories of that famous quote in 1981 when Norway defeated England in a World Cup qualifier.
To channel Bjørge Lillelien and his famous commentary: Pep Guardiola, your Manchester City boys took a heck of a beating on the shores of the Norwegian Sea, below the skies of the aurora borealis, and on an artificial pitch.
It’s fair to say this was majestic; an immortal victory which downed a continental superpower. In 2017, Bodo played in Norway’s second tier, but by last year, they had won four Norwegian titles in a row.
Penny for the thoughts of manager Kjetil Knutsen, a former teacher, as he saw his side take City to the cleaners.
Two goals in three minutes midway through the first half set them on their way as Ole Didrik Blomberg’s looping cross was headed home by Kasper Hogh before the same player expertly finished first time.
Petter Hauge’s sensational solo effort, curling brilliantly into the top corner, had the hosts in dreamland and, even after Rayan Cherki pulled a goal back before midfielder Rodri was sent off for two quick bookable offences, it never seemed like the giants would avoid a humbling.
This win was even more impressive as Glimt have not been in regular action for two months since their league season concluded, agonisingly losing the title by a point to Viking, and they had not played in six weeks since a draw against Borussia Dortmund.
Meanwhile, Hogh had only scored once in 16 games and now had two past a goalkeeper who was a champion of Europe last season.
Fairytale stuff.
Moving on to Italy, and last season’s beaten finalists, Inter Milan, are in real danger of not sealing an automatic place in the last 16.
That in itself is hardly too concerning, given the teams placed ninth to 24th in the standings will contest a last 16 play-off and the Nerazzurri have all but achieved that.
The fact that they lost at home to an English side for the second successive match in the tournament confirms what I have long said, that, while the Italian title race is the most compelling in Europe, the country’s leading teams are a far cry from yesteryear.
What I did want to highlight, though, was how terrific Arsenal have been.
Their 3-1 success guaranteed a top-two finish in the group standings and continued their 100 per cent record.
It also demonstrated just what a strong squad manager Mikel Arteta has assembled.
He could afford to leave captain Martin Odegaard, midfield partner Declan Rice, and key defender Gabriel on the bench and still win the tie with something to spare.
And if a good night’s work could have been any better, Arteta will have been delighted to see Gabriel Jesus, recently returned after virtually a year out of action, net a brace, while the Gunners took their tally to 19 goals arising from corners this season – and it’s only January.
The fact that substitute Viktor Gyokeres added a third, less than 10 minutes after replacing Jesus, showed just how strong they are.
My pre-match view that this tournament possibly means more to Inter this term, with Arsenal’s priority being the Premier League, has not changed.
But as this game, and an earlier dissection of Bayern Munich – my tip to win the Champions League this season – has shown (not so long after a dismantling of Atletico Madrid), it will take a special side to halt the Gunners if they hit top gear in the latter stages. They are flying.
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