Who will stop Erling Haaland?
Cristiano Ronaldo took seven shots against Wales on the first matchday. The 41-year-old recorded an xG of 1.32. However, he was denied a goal ahead of our Norway vs. Portugal tip. His counterpart on the other side was more clinical in front of the opponent’s net.
Just as the Seleção defeated the Quinas (1–0 vs. Wales), the Scandinavians also got off to a winning start. A brace from Erling Haaland and a goal from Oscar Bobb secured a 3–2 victory over Denmark. In our Norway vs. Portugal prediction, we’re now eagerly looking at the offenses of both national teams.
It may come as a bit of a surprise to some. The Norway vs. Portugal odds are very close. For a win bet, we’d recommend a free bet. The picture becomes a bit clearer after analyzing the goal bets. Both teams bring great quality to the attack.
For the hosts, Erling Haaland leads the attack. The 26-year-old scored his fourth brace in his last six international matches on the first matchday. In total, he has 64 goals in just 56 international matches. The Manchester City pro has scored 21 of those goals in 17 Nations League matches.
However, the tall striker urgently needs to showcase his skills to mask Norway’s defensive vulnerabilities. In each of the Lions’ last nine international matches, both teams have scored. Even against Denmark, they nearly squandered the victory despite holding a 2-0 lead at one point.
The Portuguese team is perfectly suited to finding and exploiting gaps in the opposing defense. Both attacking lines could treat spectators to a high-scoring evening.
Norway vs. Portugal Head-to-Head Record
It’s been over ten years since these two nations last faced off. Unlike Portugal’s 3-0 victory back then, we expect a more evenly matched contest this time around. The quality of the Lions’ squad has improved tremendously.
The overall record clearly favors the two-time Nations League champions led by captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Of their eleven previous head-to-head matches, Portugal has won eight. Two additional matches ended in draws. Norway has won only one of these encounters.
Norway – Portugal Prediction
Right from the start of their match against Wales—Portugal’s first game under Jorge Jesus—they applied heavy pressure and played with a clear purpose up front. With a 1–0 lead, the game slowed down somewhat. After the final whistle, data providers put Portugal’s expected goals at 1.93.
The defending champions will also have several chances in their away match against the World Cup quarterfinalists from Scandinavia. The only question is: How effectively will the Seleção take on the Quinas?
If the 2016 European champions fail to capitalize on a few opportunities, they could quickly find themselves trailing on the scoreboard. Norway plays fast, direct soccer. Haaland and his lively teammates consistently look to break through deep and attack the goal at every opportunity. Set pieces are also a strength for the home team.
