Football Weekly – Bodø/Glimt Stun Inter and Newcastle See Off Qarabag

Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Max Rushden
Panel: Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini, Sam (surname not specified), Lars Sivertsen (voice note), others
Produced by: The Guardian

Episode Overview

This episode of Football Weekly dives into a historic Champions League night — Bodø/Glimt’s stunning elimination of Inter Milan at the San Siro, marking what many call the greatest night in Norwegian football. The panel also covers Newcastle's routine progression past Qarabag, the other Champions League ties including Atlético vs Brugge, Leverkusen’s quiet progress, Premier League and Championship talking points, quirky stories (sprinklers in the rain, Snoop Dogg at Swansea), and the ongoing issue of violence in Mexico ahead of the World Cup.

Bodø/Glimt’s Sensational Upset At The San Siro

Segment: 01:31–17:57

The Match

• Result: Inter Milan 1–2 Bodø/Glimt (over two legs, a comprehensive upset).
• Bodø/Glimt, a modestly funded team from a Norwegian town of just 50,000, cracked the European elite by knocking out last year’s Champions League finalists and current Serie A leaders.

Lars Sivertsen’s Voice Note [01:57]

• “This team has already done the impossible more than once. Maybe we need to reevaluate what is and isn't possible. … It’s just a remarkable achievement. Incredible for every player on the pitch, for every citizen of Bodø—all of which would comfortably fit into the San Siro. … It matters that goals like this have made the idea of a ‘closed’ European league look ridiculous. That's why we care about this stuff.” (Lars, 01:57–05:13)

Key Points from Lars:

• Bodø/Glimt had to adapt—usually dominant in possession, but Inter dominated ball and territory (Esp. first half).
• Defensive resilience, tactical discipline (not luck): “They made an awful lot of that luck themselves.”
• This is an argument against the Super League idea—stories like this justify open competitions.
• “That’s what gives everything meaning ... That it’s still theoretically possible for a team from a town of 50,000 to knock out a rich team in the final two of the last three years.” (05:13)

Panel Reactions

• Barry Glendenning:
  • "They're not fluking their way through this tournament. They're playing really well." (05:41)
  • Highlights significant financial disparity: Internazionale's squad cost €666m vs. Bodø's €57m market value.
  • “It’s been billed as a fairy tale…but I wasn’t massively surprised.” (05:41)
• Nicky Bandini:
  • Bodø/Glimt are now used to these shocks (Atletico, Man City, Inter); team is comfortable, clinical, and adaptable.
  • “It’s astonishing how clinical they look going forward. They did against City, Atletico, Inter… every time they go forward they’re going to put it in the net.” (08:46)
• Sam:
  • Praises their attacking prowess, highlights the technical quality of their second goal: “…one of the better goals in the Champions League this season.” (08:49)
  • “They are now the story of the Champions League.” (09:34)

Key Analysis

• Tactical flexibility: Low-block, disciplined counter, ruthless when breaking.
• Not just a home-pitch anomaly — they excelled away (San Siro win).
• The panel stresses that future opponents will fear Bodø, not hope to draw them.

Notable Moment

• “I don’t think anyone will want to play Bodø in the next round… They’ve already battered City.” (Barry, 09:59)
• “That’s deranged.” (Max, 09:49, about still wanting to draw Bodø)

Inter’s Meltdown & Broader Italian Woes

• Akanji’s howler for Bodø’s opener, comical finger-pointing post-error.
• Italian clubs on course for “one of the worst campaigns in modern Champions League history.” (11:35–12:46, Nicky).
• "The boring reality is… [Italian teams] aren’t as rich." (Nicky, 12:44)
• Inter’s tactical identity in flux since Simone Inzaghi’s departure, struggle to break down disciplined opponents.
• “This is a club at a specific moment between chapters. I don’t know yet if Christian Chivu is the man to take them forward, and I think Inter don’t really either.” (Nicky, 16:17)

Newcastle 3–2 Qarabag (Aggregate)

Segment: 18:45–23:50

Tie Context

• Second leg a formality after Newcastle’s emphatic first-leg lead; two goals in first six minutes put the tie out of sight.

Talking Points

• Sam (Newcastle fan): “Job was done in the first leg. It was full there, though a few were leaving early—can’t blame them.” (20:33)
• Importance of squad rotation, player injuries and returning stars (Joelinton, Botman, Visser, Alex Murphy debut).
• Sandro Tonali’s full 90 seen as a risk: “I found it a bit odd that Tonali was still on; he’s central to Newcastle’s team.” (21:23)
• Positive: Advancing to Champions League last 16 for the first time ever in current format.

Notable Quote

• “They did the job they needed to do. The tide was over in the first leg.” (Sam, 20:33)

Voltamara’s Positioning Debate

• Wayne Rooney and Shearer critical of his deep positioning; Sam defends: “He is playing tactically where he’s been instructed to play ... it’s part of a midfield three.” (24:15)

Other Champions League Games

Segment: 25:15–28:35

Atlético Madrid 4–1 Club Brugge (7–4 agg.)

• Club Brugge very much in the tie until a key Jan Oblak save at 1–1 (25:32).
• Saúl becomes the first Atlético player to score a Champions League knockout hat-trick. (26:58)
• Ademola Lookman thriving after a tricky transfer saga.
• “Atlético are a team capable of brilliance but lacking control.” (Nicky, 27:00)

Bayer Leverkusen 0–0 Olympiacos (Leverkusen progress)

• No panelist watched; consensus: Arsenal/Bayern would not fear them in the next round. (28:23)

Premier League: Everton 0–1 Manchester United

Segment: 32:01–39:19

Key Points

• Winner from Sesko, set up by a dynamic break from Mathias Cunha.
• United’s summer window hailed: “It’s looking like a really, really great summer window… Sesko’s starting to find the goal.” (Sam, 32:26)
• Michael Carrick praised for clear tactics and returning players to familiar roles.
• “It’s astonishing that it was that hard before.” (Nicky, 34:25)
• “This was a terrible, terrible game. It was won by the sole moment of quality.” (Barry, 34:37)
• Everton’s set-piece tactics lead to comical scenes at corners: “All the players surrounding and James Tarkovsky and Harry Maguire just sort of falling on the floor and then laughing about it.” (Max, 35:01)
• Debate about policing at corners and speculation about exclusion zones around goalkeepers.

Rule Controversies: Handball Law and VAR

Segment: 29:54–32:01

Dan Burn Handball (Newcastle v Qarabag)

• Given for “groundside” arm as he fell—panel agrees it’s absurd.
• “There is literally nowhere else Dan Byrne could have put his arm.” (Barry, 29:54)
• Detachment from reality noted: players stop complaining, refs just give it.

Broader Point

• IFAB not addressing the handball rule despite public outcry.
• “You're ruining football… and they don't even realize.” (Max, 31:16)

Championship & Lower Leagues

Segment: 39:19–44:12

Snoop Dogg at Swansea

• Snoop Dogg visits Swansea (now part-owner alongside Martha Stewart and Luka Modric), does pre-match lap, gives out towels.
• Crowd serenades him; coach jokes about tunnel “stinking of weed.”

Promotion/Relegation Update

• Middlesbrough and Leicester draw; Ipswich climbing; West Brom sack Ramsey after 44 days.
• Playoff and relegation battles intensify.

Non-League Shenanigans:

• Kings Lynn Town allegedly watering pitch in the rain leading to postponement, sparking investigation.
• “If you are deliberately… trying to avoid playing fixtures, I’m not on board with that at all.” (Sam, 49:05)

Societal Issues: Violence in Mexico Ahead of the World Cup

Segment: 44:12–47:19

Context

• Recent cartel violence and road blockades near World Cup venues, raising concerns about tournament safety.
• Political leaders claim no risk for visitors.

Panel Insights

• “FIFA [usually] imposes a temporary state of being on places it goes… But this time, it feels [it] may not have that level of grip.” (Nicky, 45:27)
• Drug cartels have vested interests in a smooth World Cup for business reasons, not chaos.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lars Sivertsen (on Bodø’s upset):
  “Maybe the concept itself, something being impossible just doesn't really apply here … this is the whole point of this tournament.” (01:57–05:13)
• Barry:
  “They’re not just a lovely story... They’re a good football team. So we’ve got to take them seriously.” (17:24)
• Nicky:
  “It’s astonishing how clinical they look going forward.” (08:46)
• On Inter’s struggles:
  “This is a club at a specific moment between chapters.” (16:17)
• On the VAR/handball farce:
  “You're ruining football ... and they don’t even realize.” (Max, 31:16)
• On Snoop Dogg at Swansea:
  “He did a pre-match lap … and saw his team come from behind.” (Barry, 41:24)
• On Kings Lynn’s sprinkler-gate:
  “If you’re a football club deliberately trying to avoid fixtures… not on board with that at all.” (Sam, 49:05)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Bodø/Glimt – Inter Milan: 01:31–17:57
• Newcastle – Qarabag: 18:45–23:50
• Atlético – Brugge, Leverkusen – Olympiacos: 25:15–28:35
• Handball/VAR Debate: 29:54–32:01
• Everton – Manchester United: 32:01–39:19
• Championship, Snoop Dogg at Swansea: 39:19–44:12
• Mexico World Cup Violence: 44:12–47:19
• Lower League Oddball (Kings Lynn sprinklers): 47:40–49:41

Final Thoughts

A lively episode combining technical football analysis, strong opinions, and classic Football Weekly banter. The panel celebrates one of the all-time Champions League upsets, laments football’s governance foibles, and continues to find the absurdities and joys that make the sport special—from Norwegian miracles to Snoop Dogg at Swansea.