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Estádio do Dragão, in Porto, hosts the national team’s first match on Portuguese soil since Ronaldo left the training camp while still in Copenhagen last Wednesday, allegedly in ‘conflict’ with Jesus.

Portugal, the defending champion, needs only a draw against Norway to secure qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals. Beyond what happens on the pitch, the reaction of the fans in the stands will also be closely watched.

The first moment of assessment may come before the ball even starts rolling, during the announcement of the starting eleven over the Dragão sound system, when Jorge Jesus’ name is read out.

A day after captain Cristiano Ronaldo left the national team camp of his own accord, the side coached by Jorge Jesus won 4-2 in Denmark. Gonçalo Ramos and Bruno Fernandes, who wore the captain’s armband in Copenhagen, stood out in a top-level display.

The Portuguese team thus extended its perfect winning run both in the Nations League and in the Jesus era. Before that, it had beaten Wales 1-0 at the Estádio José Alvalade, with Ronaldo in the starting eleven, and defeated Norway 2-1 in Oslo, a match in which the 41-year-old forward was not used.

In Portugal’s fourth match in just 11 days, changes to the starting team are expected. João Félix, a substitute in Copenhagen and scorer of three goals in the campaign, has some fitness issues.

Jorge Jesus may freshen up the midfield, with João Palhinha and João Neves among the options to return to the starting line-up. In attack, Gonçalo Ramos appears certain of a place, with it still unclear whether Rafael Leão or Félix will partner him.

The 72-year-old coach used the same back four in the previous matches – Cancelo, Renato Veiga, Rúben Dias and Nuno Mendes – but may be forced to make changes, with Dalot emerging as an alternative at right-back.

In the first meeting between the two teams, in Oslo, João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos scored for Portugal, while Haaland beat goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

It will be the third clash, in less than a month, between the Norwegian striker and the Portuguese international goalkeeper. In between, FC Porto lost 2-0 at the Dragão to Manchester City in the Champions League, in a match in which Haaland scored a brace.

In two matches, Diogo Costa conceded three goals against the player regarded as the best centre-forward in the world today, although he also made more than ten high-level saves.

On the Norwegian side, Heggem misses the game through suspension. The match is also drawing particular attention in Scandinavia because of another individual duel.

Deep into stoppage time in the first meeting, Bernardo Silva made a very ugly, and completely unnecessary, challenge on Martin Odegaard, in an incident that left Norway’s captain with physical problems.

After that match, the Portuguese international was heavily criticised by coach Stale Solbakken, the players, the press and the Norwegian fans, ‘furious’ with Bernardo Silva and calling for Odegaard to take ‘revenge’ in the rematch at the Dragão.

Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga and João Cancelo could miss the fifth matchday, in Braga, against Denmark, if they are shown a yellow card. João Palhinha, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Neves are in the same situation.

Portugal leads Group A4 with nine points, while Norway, Wales and Denmark have three each.

On Thursday, Norway lost 2-1 in Cardiff.

The match between Portugal and Norway is scheduled to kick off at 19:45 at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, and will be refereed by Italian official Maurizio Mariani.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.