Nicolo Barella criticizes new Champions League format after elimination by Bodø/Glimt

Perhaps under the old format, Inter would have reached the round of 16 without any trouble.

Details: After a sensational playoff exit at the hands of Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, Inter's 29-year-old central midfielder Nicolo Barella lashed out at the new Champions League format and claimed their elimination was the result of a refereeing mistake during the group stage.

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Barella also believes that the trip to Norway took a heavy toll on the team's physical condition:

"That's the difference: when a single point means you don't go straight to the round of 16 just because a made-up penalty was awarded against us in the 90th minute (against Liverpool), and because of that, we missed out on the top eight.

We could have saved ourselves two matches and avoided a very long trip to Norway. But that's the reality of football in the new Champions League," Barella said.

Inter exited the Champions League after losing to Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt with an aggregate score of 2-5, which has so far been the biggest shock of this year's Champions League campaign.

Reminder: "This is the greatest result in Norwegian football history" - Norwegian Football Federation comments on Bodø/Glimt's victory over Inter