Portugal rally to beat Norway 2-1 in UEFA Nations League Matchday 4

Portugal defeated Norway 2-1 on Matchday 4 of the UEFA Nations League on October 4, 2026, overturning an early deficit to secure victory.

The win extended Portugal's run to three successive victories under new coach Jorge Jesus and came without Cristiano Ronaldo, who remained on the bench for the match. Norway, fresh from a quarter-final run at the FIFA World Cup 2026, have registered a downturn in form and face defensive problems, according to reports. Their Nations League campaign started with a victory over Denmark but successive defeats to Wales and Portugal have exposed those defensive flaws and delivered what the coverage described as a harsh reality check.

Kristoffer Ajer opened the scoring for Norway in the 36th minute before João Cancelo equalised two minutes later, and Gonçalo Ramos put Portugal ahead in the 79th minute. Portugal were reduced to 10 men when Francisco Conceň was shown a second yellow and sent off in the 87th minute.

Reports tied Norway's defensive issues to weariness and the physical toll following the summer competition, saying those factors have contributed to the side's recent troubles. The defeats to Wales and Portugal were highlighted as evidence of the backline's vulnerabilities that need addressing.

Jorge Jesus took charge in July 2026 following Roberto Martínez's resignation and has altered Portugal's attacking identity, shifting away from a tight 4-3-3 toward a more fluid, high-intensity tactical arrangement that leverages the squad's forward options. The change in approach has coincided with the team's recent string of results.

Gonçalo Ramos has now scored in three successive appearances for Portugal in the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League, and his strike against Norway continued his scoring run for the Selecao. That contribution helped maintain Portugal's momentum under Jesus.

Cristiano Ronaldo spent the entire 2-1 match on the bench, his first full game as a substitute or unused in 18 years. After Jesus confirmed Ronaldo would not start against Denmark, the 41-year-old departed the national team training camp following consultation with the federation president.

Portugal sit first in Group A4 of the UEFA Nations League, maintaining a flawless start to their group campaign.