At Porto’s Estádio do Dragão, Portugal head into Sunday’s Nations League return against Norway with qualification within reach, while Jorge Jesus has sought to keep the focus on a team contest rather than Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence from the previous meeting.
Key takeaways
- Portugal host Norway on Sunday at 20:45 at the Estádio do Dragão.
- The Portuguese side lead Nations League Group A4 after winning every match so far.
- A further victory would secure Portugal’s place in next June’s quarter-finals, scheduled for 9–13 June.
- Ronaldo did not play in Portugal’s 2-1 win in Oslo and subsequently left the squad.
- Norway sit third in the group on three points, level with Denmark and Wales.
Portugal’s route through Group A4
The group picture gives Portugal a clear opportunity in their own northern city. Norway arrive third on three points, with Denmark above them only on goal difference and bottom-placed Wales also on the same total. Portugal, by contrast, have made a perfect start and can turn that run into confirmed quarter-final qualification with another win.
The Nations League knockout stage is set to take place next year, between 9 and 13 June. For Jorge Jesus, however, the immediate task is the second meeting with Norway, after Portugal’s 2-1 success in Oslo.
Jesus defers Ronaldo discussion
Ronaldo became the central subject at the pre-match press conference after leaving following the Oslo match, in which he remained unused. Jesus opened by insisting that attention should be directed first towards the national team.
The Portugal coach described Ronaldo as a symbol both of the side and of the country, but said there would be sufficient time to address the matter after the match. Pressed again, he returned to the same point: Norway, rather than the wider Ronaldo situation, is the problem Portugal must solve now.
