Norway vs Portugal: Two Winning Starts Meet at Ullevaal

There is already a clear rhythm to Group A4 before Norway and Portugal meet: both teams opened the Nations League with three points, and both now arrive at Ullevaal knowing that the second round brings their first direct test against another side that started with a victory. Norway defeated Denmark 3-2 in Oslo, with Erling Haaland scoring twice after Oscar Bobb had opened the scoring, while Portugal began Jorge Jesus’s tenure with a 1-0 victory over Wales through João Félix. The Norwegian Football Federation has confirmed the match for 20:45 at Ullevaal Stadion on Sunday, 27 September.

Norway’s attacking structure has an obvious focal point in Haaland, but the opening match showed that the threat is not restricted to the Manchester City striker. Bobb scored against Denmark, Martin Ødegaard supplied two assists, and Antonio Nusa started alongside Haaland in a front three. The midfield combination of Patrick Berg, Sander Berge and Ødegaard also gives Ståle Solbakken several ways to progress the ball before it reaches the final third. Portugal, meanwhile, arrive with João Félix having scored the only goal against Wales, while Jorge Jesus has a deep attacking group that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Ramos and Francisco Conceição.

The first tactical complication for Norway is on the left side of the defence. David Møller Wolfe was sent off against Denmark after receiving a second yellow card in stoppage time, so his absence is disciplinary rather than injury-related and he is not included in the injury table below. Alexander Sørloth is also unavailable after Ståle Solbakken confirmed before the squad was assembled that the forward would miss the September and October Nations League matches because of injury. That leaves Norway with Jørgen Strand Larsen and Erik Botheim as additional centre-forward options behind Haaland. Portugal’s situation changed on Sunday morning when Bruno Fernandes was absent from the official UEFA match squad after Jorge Jesus had disclosed that the captain had been playing with an injury picked up at Manchester United.

The pre-match Portuguese discussion has consequently centred on how the visitors adjust without Fernandes and how Jesus manages the short turnaround between Wales and Norway. Jesus has already confirmed Rúben Dias and Renato Veiga as the two centre-backs for the match, specifically discussing the challenge presented by Haaland. He also described Haaland as an exceptional centre-forward, while Norway’s preparations have focused on continuing the momentum from the 3-2 opening victory. With both teams on three points and the return meeting already scheduled for Porto on 4 October, Sunday’s encounter forms the first half of a two-match sequence between these nations within the same Nations League window.

🟥 Confirmed Injury Absences

Only named injury absences supported by current squad or federation-related information are included below. Sørloth’s absence was confirmed by Norway coach Ståle Solbakken before the international window, while Fernandes is absent from the UEFA match squad after Jesus confirmed his injury situation. David Møller Wolfe is deliberately excluded because his absence is caused by suspension, not injury.

🟢 Official Matchday Personnel

The latest UEFA squad page confirms the available matchday groups, but it does not present these tables as predicted XIs. Norway’s official federation lineup from the Denmark match provides the clearest recent reference for Solbakken’s selection, while Portugal’s official squad list confirms the players available after the latest update. Because the final starting teams are separate from squad availability, only documented key personnel are listed here rather than presenting an unconfirmed XI as official.

📰 What the Pre-Match Reports Are Saying

• Norway’s 3-2 victory over Denmark gave them three points in their first-ever Nations League League A campaign.
• Portugal began the Jorge Jesus era with a 1-0 victory over Wales, with João Félix scoring the decisive goal.
• Bruno Fernandes is absent from Portugal’s official UEFA match squad after Jesus confirmed that the midfielder had been carrying an injury.
• Alexander Sørloth was ruled out of Norway’s September and October Nations League matches because of injury.
• Jorge Jesus has confirmed Rúben Dias and Renato Veiga as Portugal’s centre-back pairing for the match, specifically in preparation for the threat posed by Haaland.
• David Møller Wolfe is unavailable through suspension after his dismissal against Denmark; this is a disciplinary absence and not an injury.

The Contest May Be Decided by the Space Around the Main Threats

Norway’s attacking plan naturally draws attention toward Haaland, but the route into him could be just as important as the striker himself. Ødegaard’s ability to receive between midfield and defence, combined with the width supplied by Bobb and Nusa, gives Norway several avenues through which they can move Portugal’s defensive block before looking for the final pass. Portugal’s decision to pair Rúben Dias with Renato Veiga is directly connected to that problem, while the midfield will have to compensate for Fernandes’ absence. The visitors can still draw on Vitinha, João Neves, Rúben Neves and Bernardo Silva from the official squad, so the central battle will not simply disappear because one player is missing.

There is another layer to the fixture: the teams meet again in Porto only seven days later. That means both coaching staffs have to manage not just Sunday’s tactical demands but also the workload across a compressed Nations League schedule. Norway have home matches against Denmark and Portugal before travelling to Wales, while Portugal’s sequence moves from Wales to Norway, then Denmark and finally the return match with Norway. The official team sheets will settle the remaining selection questions, particularly around Portugal’s attacking rotation and Norway’s solution on the left side of defence. For now, the confirmed picture is straightforward: two Group A4 sides with three points each, a sold-out Ullevaal setting, Haaland at the centre of Norway’s attacking threat, and Portugal arriving without Fernandes after his injury ruled him out of the matchday squad.