Inter Milan were comprehensively beaten by Bodo/Glimt in their Champions League playoff, but Nicolo Barella still blames a “made-up penalty” vs. Liverpool.
Last season’s Champions League runners-up were knocked out at the playoff stage on Tuesday night as Inter suffered a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Bodo/Glimt.
The Norwegian side – who haven’t played a domestic fixture since November 30 after the Eliteserien campaign ended – sealed a 2-1 win at the San Siro to book a place in the last 16.
But despite losing both legs of their playoff tie to a club 31 places below them in UEFA’s rankings, Barella blamed Inter’s Champions League exit on a penalty awarded to Liverpool.
MILAN, ITALY - Tuesday, December 9, 2025: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scores the first goal with a penalty kick during the UEFA Champions League game between Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at the Stadio San Siro. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“This is the difference when by just one single point you don’t go straight to the round of 16,” he told Sky Sport Italia post-match.
“Only because they called a made-up penalty in the 90th minute [against Liverpool], and with that you didn’t end up in the top eight.
“Without that, we’d have avoided two games and a very long trip to Norway, but that’s how football is in the new Champions League.”
Barella was of course referring to the penalty awarded to Liverpool after Alessandro Bastoni pulled Florian Wirtz‘s shirt in the box at the very end of December’s league phase clash.
After a lengthy VAR review the decision was made to award the Reds a spot-kick which Dominik Szoboszlai converted to earn a 1-0 win.
It was undoubtedly a soft penalty but one Inter could have avoided, and while their failure to finish in the top eight shows the fine margins of the revamped Champions League it would be ridiculous to blame their exit on one decision.
?L’#Inter chiede a gran voce il rigore per questo presunto fallo su #Barella
Per l’arbitro e il Var non c’è niente?#InterBodo #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/B2ZZxNysys
— calciomercato.it (@calciomercatoit) February 24, 2026
Ironically, Barella attracted criticism from rival supporters for twice diving in the penalty area in Tuesday’s second-leg loss to Bodo/Glimt.
Bodo/Glimt are now into the last 16 draw which takes places on Friday, February 27.
Liverpool are seeded for the draw having finished third in the league phase and will play either Atletico Madrid or the winners of Galatasaray vs. Juventus.
Champions League Last-16: Draw Info & Potential Opponents
Liverpool are seeded for the Champions League last-16 draw on February 27, meaning they will face Atletico Madrid or the winners from Galatasaray vs. Juventus.
Draw Date Friday, Feb 27 (11am GMT)
Match Dates March 10/11 & March 17/18
Potential Opponent A Galatasaray or Juventus
Potential Opponent B Atletico Madrid
Seeded Status Seeded (Anfield second leg)