Norway and Portugal go meet for UEFA Nations League 2026-2027 Group A4 match for Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway, on Sunday at 7:45pm local time, 18:45 GMT. Portugal, two-time champions, dey defend title after 1-0 home win over Wales. Norway also start with 3-2 win over Denmark. This match na first big test for Portugal under new coach Jorge Jesus.
For Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo no start. Jorge Jesus name am among substitutes. According to Mundo Deportivo, Jesus talk say today na third day, Ronaldo play nearly 70 minutes against Wales, and he no fit start two matches back-to-back. Jesus talk say dem want Ronaldo in these four matches, even if na only few minutes, but dem want am on pitch. Ronaldo, 41, start Thursday as Portugal beat Wales 1-0. Two years don pass since Ronaldo last begin Portugal game on bench. Last time na 8 September 2024, UEFA Nations League tie against Scotland wey end 2-1, Roberto Martinez send am on second half and he score 88th-minute goal.
In Ronaldo place, Jesus field Goncalo Ramos as spearhead. Attack also get Joao Felix, the scorer against Wales, alongside Joao Neves. Norway coach Stale Solbakken pick Erling Haaland from start. Haaland fresh from brace in Norway 3-2 win over Denmark on Thursday. Oscar Bobb also score for that game.
Haaland double against Denmark mark milestone. The 26-year-old striker now be highest-scoring Nordic man in international football history, pass Sweden Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Haaland goal tally for Norway stand at 64 goals compared to Ibrahimovic 62. Haaland shatter record in 56 appearances, less than half of 122 matches Ibrahimovic need. Solbakken talk say, ‘It is not possible to explain nor is it possible to learn. He is born with it. It is instinct.’ Midfielder Sander Berge talk say, ‘It is madness. It is everyday business that Haaland scores goals, so it is reasonable that he is up there, but it is powerful.’
Portugal miss Bruno Fernandes. The midfielder injured and Jesus talk say he no want risk am against Norway. Jesus talk, ‘Against Wales, we went in with practically everyone physically available and came out with a complicated problem with Bruno Fernandes. He is coming off an injury at United, and he told me he has been playing with that pain for the last three games, which is hindering him. It was one of the factors that prevented Bruno from playing at his best against Wales. I have already spoken to him, and I prefer not to risk it in this game, so he is fully fit for the Denmark match.’ Fernandes don play all seven Manchester United matches this season and start for Portugal against Wales before dem withdraw am for 90th minute.
Jesus talk about Norway, ‘Norway are one of the strongest teams in Europe. They have players we know like Haaland and Odegaard who play at a very high level in England. They will create more goalscoring opportunities against us than Wales, and I hope we have the defensive capacity. There is not much to improve. We will evolve the game we have already played, but I trust that the team will respond defensively and will be more creative offensively.’ Solbakken talk, ‘They changed the coach, and if you look at what he did at his previous clubs and the football they played, the way they played against Wales was a little different to what it was with Roberto Martinez. There were players in other positions, and we took that into account in our game plan. Obviously, they have good players all over the field. We expect a close and balanced game. It is our home game, so we will try to stop their biggest assets, but it is also important for us to play our game and be loyal to the way we have been playing in recent years.’
Norway go miss David Moller Wolfe. He suspended after picking up two yellow cards in last game. Portugal get fully fit squad. In live match events, Trincao replace Goncalo Ramos for Portugal. Ruben Neves replace Joao Palhinha. Jorgen Strand Larsen replace Antonio Nusa for Norway. Oscar Bobb replace Patrick Berg. Attempt saved: Trincao left footed shot from outside box saved. Andreas Schjelderup left footed shot from left side of six yard box saved in top right corner by Diogo Costa, assisted by Antonio Nusa with through ball. Joao Cancelo shown yellow card for bad foul. Vitinha shown yellow card. Renato Veiga shown yellow card for bad foul. Martin Odegaard win free kick in defensive half. Oscar Bobb win free kick on right wing. Fouls by Goncalo Ramos, Joao Cancelo, Leo Ostigard. Corner for Norway conceded by Joao Cancelo.
Portugal holders travel to Denmark next Thursday before hosting Norway on fourth of October. The teams last meet for 2016 international friendly in Porto, when Portugal beat Norway 3-0. Norway probable XI: Orjan Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, Fredrik Aursnes; Odegaard, Sander Berge, Patrick Berg; Bobb, Haaland, Antonio Nusa. Portugal no get injury problem for squad.
