ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Erling Haaland scored his 22nd UEFA Nations League goal for Norway against Portugal.
- Portugal won 2-1 at home despite missing Cristiano Ronaldo from the squad.
- Norway's loss came despite Haaland extending his record in the competition.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Haaland’s 22nd Nations League goal shows why he remains the most dangerous striker in Europe, but it also exposed Norway’s over‑reliance on a single finisher. The 2‑1 loss to a Portugal side without Cristiano Ronaldo revealed that the visitors could win through collective pressing and quick transitions, while the home side offered little beyond Haaland’s occasional bursts. Norway’s defensive shape stayed static, allowing Portugal to exploit the spaces left when Haaland dropped deep to link play.
Portugal’s victory proves that depth can outweigh star power when a team executes a coherent game plan; Ronaldo’s absence did not diminish their ability to create and convert chances. For Norway, the problem is not talent but tactics: they need a plan that does not hinge on one man’s moments of brilliance.
The test will be whether Norway tighten their back line and vary their attacking approach in the next Nations League fixture, a change that will be visible in the goals they concede and the chances they create.
WHY IT MATTERS
Portugal's ability to win without Cristiano Ronaldo highlights their squad depth and tactical flexibility in the Nations League, showing they can rely on other contributors to secure results.
Erling Haaland
ST
Norway
Strengths
- ✓Clinical finishing in high-pressure situations
- ✓Ability to score against organized defenses
- ✓Consistent goal-scoring record in international competition
- ⚠Can Haaland maintain his scoring rate without adequate midfield support?
- ⚠How will Norway adjust their tactics to better supply him in future matches?
TACTICAL FIT
Haaland's goal underscores his continued importance as Norway's focal point, but the team's defensive vulnerabilities were exposed, suggesting a need for better support around their star striker.
THE DEBATE
Is Portugal stronger without Cristiano Ronaldo in the squad?
UEFA Nations League, Group A4
1-0-1, 3 PTS
1
1-0-1, 3 PTS
FT
2-0-0, 6 PTS
2
2-0-0, 6 PTS
Erling Haaland - 51'
João Félix - 17'
Gonçalo Ramos - 54'
Haaland scores but Ronaldo-less Portugal top Norway
By ESPN News Services
Updated: Sep 27, 2026, 05:54 pm
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Erling Haaland's record-extending 22nd UEFA Nations League goal wasn't enough to prevent Norway from going down to a 2-1 home loss to a Portugal side missing its star man, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo, 41, has opted to continue playing for Portugal following the World Cup and started his team's opening Nations League fixture -- a 1-0 win over Wales on Thursday.
But with Ronaldo remaining on the bench for the full 90 minutes in Oslo, the man who replaced him in the starting lineup, Gonçalo Ramos, scored Portugal's winner in the 54th minute.
The AC Milan forward intercepted a poor pass by Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland.
Gonçalo Ramos celebrates his goal in Portugal's win over Norway.
Boris Streubel - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
"Every moment is important," Ramos told Sport TV. "The most important thing is to show what I can do whenever I'm called upon and to contribute to the team. It was a demonstration of my work, of what I can offer the team -- not just goals, but everything I do on the pitch."
Just three minutes earlier, Haaland had scored to extend his lead as the Nations League's record scorer to seven over Ronaldo and Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The Manchester City striker has now scored in 16 of his last 17 competitive games for Norway, with the one blemish in that run being the loss to England in the World Cup quarterfinals.
João Félix had earlier put Portugal in front, scoring for the second straight game after netting the winner against Wales.
Félix took a touch to control Pedro Neto's cross before shooting low inside the corner in the 17th.
Ramos thought he'd made it 3-1 before the hour mark after another mistake by Nyland only to have the goal ruled out for offside after a VAR check.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Head-To-Head
NORLast 3 Matchups
POR0
International Friendly
FT
@ POR
3
0
2012 European Championship Qualifying, Group Stage 2012
FT
@ POR
1
Group Stage 2012
FT
@ NOR
0
Game Information
Oslo, Norway
Referee:Francois Letexier
2026 Standings
UEFA Nations League
| Group A4 | GP | W | D | L | GD | P | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Portugal | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 6 | | Norway | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | | Denmark | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1 | 3 | | Wales | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
UEFA Nations League News
## Republic of Ireland beat Israel after skipping pregame handshakes The Republic of Ireland wore black armbands and skipped the typical prematch handshakes before securing a 3-0 victory over Israel in their contentious UEFA Nations League match Sunday. 25m
## Figo backs Ronaldo to continue to play for Portugal Figo backs Ronaldo to continue to play for Portugal 2h
## Liverpool, Netherlands await news on Cody Gakpo ankle injury The Netherlands and Liverpool must wait to discover the extent of an ankle injury suffered by forward Cody Gakpo on Sunday. 2h
AI-assisted · generated from ESPN FC reporting, not editor reviewed
