"We did not play the game, we played the occasion, and it became far too big for us. Sporting CP went out there and didn't care about anything, while we were thinking about the consequences from the very first touch."
"Playing their football in often freezing conditions in a town located just north of the Arctic circle, the Norwegians surprised many by reaching the knockout stage on their debut in the competition. They claimed some impressive scalps along the way - beating Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league phase before winning both legs against last season's finalists Inter Milan in the knockout play-offs."
"Key to their success has often been their ability to make their home games as tough as possible. In the north of Norway, Bodo can often be bitterly cold, snowy and windy during the long winter months, with temperatures deep into minus figures."
Bodo/Glimt achieved historic success in their Champions League debut by reaching the knockout stage despite starting poorly with no wins in their first six league phase matches. The Norwegian club secured qualification by defeating Manchester City 3-1 and Atletico Madrid 2-1, then eliminated Inter Milan in the play-offs. Their remarkable run ended when Sporting CP staged a dramatic 5-0 comeback victory after losing 3-0 in the first leg. Manager Kjetil Knutsen attributed the loss to psychological pressure, noting his team focused on consequences rather than performance. Bodo/Glimt's success stems partly from their harsh home environment in the Arctic, where freezing conditions and artificial pitches create challenging playing conditions for visiting teams.
Read at www.bbc.com
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