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Sporting Lisbon overwhelm Bodo/Glimt, secure spot in Champions League quarterfinals

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Sporting Lisbon overwhelm Bodo/Glimt, secure spot in Champions League quarterfinals
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Sporting Lisbon's Portuguese forward Rafael Nel scored his team's fifth goal during the UEFA Champions League last 16 second leg football match between Sporting CP and Bodo/Glimt at Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on March 17, 2026, as seen in a photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP.

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Sporting Lisbon staged an impressive comeback, thrashing Norwegian giantkillers Bodo/Glimt 5-0 on Tuesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 5-3 aggregate score.

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Following a 3-0 defeat in the first leg last week, Sporting produced a ruthless display in Portugal, booking a spot in the last eight for the first time since the 1982/83 season.

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After Goncalo Inacio opened the scoring, the Portuguese champions never looked back, with Bodo/Glimt's superb performances in this season's Champions League ultimately counting for nothing.

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Pedro Goncalves and Luis Suarez netted to force extra-time, while Maximiliano Araujo scored in the 92nd minute to put Sporting ahead for the first time in the tie, before Rafael Nel sealed the win with a fifth goal late on.

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Bodo/Glimt had previously shocked last season's runners-up Inter Milan in the play-off round and defeated Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league phase.

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Those astonishing results were followed up by the first leg rout of Sporting at the Norwegians' 8,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadium, giving Kjetil Knutsen's side a tantalising sight of the last eight.

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However, the Norwegian side seemed to be playing with fear from the start in Lisbon, as the hosts dominated and racked up shots at nearly the same rate the visitors were completing passes.

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Around 2,000 Bodo/Glimt fans made the long trek to Jose Alvalade stadium, where their dream was mercilessly crushed under the rain.

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Kjetil Knutsen selected the same line-up for the sixth Champions League match running, a competition record, but it was not enough to save his side from defeat.

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Rui Borges's Sporting peppered the Bodo/Glimt goal, with Nikita Haikin saving from Colombian striker Suarez early on, while Kasper Hogh had a fine chance to send the visitors ahead against the run of play.

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Former Barcelona forward Francisco Trincao's effort was deflected off-target, but he helped create the opener with a corner that Inacio rose highest to nod home and start Sporting's comeback.

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Bodo/Glimt almost pulled back level, but Odin Bjortuft headed against the crossbar, with the ball flying upwards and then dropping downwards onto the woodwork again, before Sporting were able to recover.

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Just after the hour mark, the Portuguese side forged their second goal, with Suarez racing in down the right and pulling the ball across for Goncalves to tap home.

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The comeback was well and truly on, and Suarez got in on the action himself with a penalty after 78 minutes, following a handball by Fredrik Andre Bjorkan.

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Bodo/Glimt held on to force extra-time, but after just two minutes of it, Araujo fired home, drilling inside Haikin at the near post for Sporting's fourth goal.

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Sporting wisely kept control through the rest of the additional period and wrapped things up at the death when Nel rifled into the top corner to seal the win.

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