The Sports Guru
Portugal reached the Nations League last eight with a 2-1 win over Norway, and the cost of the night for Norway may stretch beyond the table. Read on to see why Portugal's win looked more settled than its scoreline, and what Erling Haaland's early exit could mean for Manchester City.
Portugal have now won four from four in Group A4, and the latest of those wins came without Cristiano Ronaldo, with Gonçalo Ramos's 79th-minute finish at the Estádio do Dragão making it look routine. Norway, by contrast, left with a third straight Nations League defeat and a worry over their star striker. One side is moving on. The other is waiting on news.
A quick equaliser, then a steady squeeze
Norway led in the 36th minute. Kristoffer Ajer chested down a Martin Ødegaard cross and hit a half-volley into the top corner from the edge of the box. The lead lasted two minutes. João Cancelo answered with a shot on the bounce from a similar distance, set up by a long throw-in from Nuno Mendes. It was 1-1 at the break.
The winner arrived with 11 minutes left. João Félix laid the ball off and Ramos stabbed it in from close range. The goal was confirmed after a VAR review. The hosts' pressure had been building in the numbers: 20 shots to nine, seven on target to three, and 58.7% of possession.
The most telling figure is final-third passing. Portugal completed 145 passes there against Norway's 48 (BBC Sport match data). Norway made five saves to Portugal's two, so goalkeeper Egil Selvik was busy. Norway also won 75% of their tackles to Portugal's 33.3%, but that is a defensive side's statistic more than an attacking one. My reading: Norway spent the evening defending and countering, and a team doing that for long enough tends to concede.
Haaland's exit is the story Manchester City will follow
Erling Haaland signalled to the Norway bench for a substitution in the 67th minute, and Jørgen Strand Larsen replaced him. BBC Sport described it as sparking injury concerns, and the available information goes no further than that. No diagnosis is offered, so none should be assumed.
| Competition | Apps | Mins | G | A | Y | R | SpG | PS% | AW | MotM | TSG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup Norway | 5 | 466 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 62.5% | 3.4 | 3 | 8.19 |
| Champions League | 1 | 90 | 2 | 0 | 1 | - | 6 | 57.1% | 2 | 1 | 7.63 |
| Premier League | 5 | 450 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 68.8% | 1.8 | - | 7.94 |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 2(2) | 257 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | 3.8 | 77.5% | 0.8 | - | 7.32 |
| UEFA Nations League A Norway | 4 | 337 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 4.5 | 57.9% | 2.8 | 1 | 7.10 |
| FA Cup | 3(1) | - | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Community Shield | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total / Avg | - | 1600 | 23 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 7.72 |
The timing matters for Manchester City. According to the report, Haaland has seven goals this season, and City travel to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. That will be their first game since being found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. The club has lodged an appeal. Haaland had gone close for Norway before leaving, dragging an effort wide, but he has now failed to score in back-to-back games for his country.
For Norway, the drought and the injury worry arrive together. They are bottom of Group A4 on three points from four games, with one win and three defeats. Their goal difference is -2, from six scored and eight conceded.
Ronaldo's absence has become a managerial question
This was Portugal's third game in a row without Ronaldo. The report says the country's record scorer left the camp last week after being dropped. Manager Jorge Jesus intends to discuss the matter with the 41-year-old, but his public position is open-handed: "If he wants to, he'll return to the national team."
The results so far say little about how much Portugal need him. Four wins from four, nine goals scored and four conceded, put them on 12 points, six clear of second-placed Denmark on six (a calculation from the table). That is a comfortable cushion with two games left. The analysis here is narrow: the evidence supports "Portugal won without him on Sunday", not "Portugal are better without him". Jesus has not closed the door, and the table gives him time to choose his moment.
A sloppy finish that cost nothing
Portugal ended with 10 men after Francisco Conceição collected two quick bookings for dissent late on. Bruno Fernandes was also booked for a bad foul in the 88th minute. Norway had a corner and an Andreas Schjelderup shot in stoppage time, and Ajer had a late effort from a difficult angle that missed the top right corner. None of it changed the result. A side already through can afford a messy final five minutes.
For Norway, the remaining two games are about damage limitation, with relegation positions in view at the bottom of the group. For Portugal, the question has shifted from qualification to how they might use the spare games. Jesus's Ronaldo conversation is the one that could shape that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kristoffer Ajer put Norway ahead in the 36th minute. João Cancelo equalised in the 38th, and Gonçalo Ramos scored the winner in the 79th.
That is not confirmed. He beckoned to the bench and was replaced in the 67th minute, and BBC Sport reported that it sparked injury concerns. Manchester City were said to be awaiting further news.
The report says Portugal booked their place in the last eight. They lead Group A4 on 12 points, six ahead of Denmark, with two games left.
Manager Jorge Jesus says Ronaldo can return if he wants to. Jesus plans to discuss the matter with him, and no decision has been reported.
Research: This article uses the archived evidence supplied for this story. Story inspiration: BBC Sport's original report.
