Haaland's limp forces Manchester City to brace for injury test
Erling Haaland, the 26‑year‑old Norwegian striker, signalled to the bench in the 67th minute of Norway’s Nations League clash with Portugal and was seen limping off the pitch. The incident came as Norway trailed 2‑1 and the forward had just missed a chance to put his side ahead. His request for substitution sparked immediate concern for Manchester City, who monitor his fitness closely.
Norway's Nations League collapse
Norway had taken the lead in the 36th minute when Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer controlled Martin Ødegaard’s floated cross and struck a half‑volley into the top corner. Portugal equalised two minutes later as Joao Cancelo smashed home a shot from a long throw‑in by Nuno Mendes, and the Portuguese side later secured a 2‑1 win when Gonçalo Ramos poked home from close range after Joao Félix’s lay‑off with 11 minutes left. The hosts were reduced to ten men after Francisco Conceição received a second yellow card in the 87th minute. Haaland, who had gone close before being replaced by Crystal Palace’s Jørgen Strand Larsen, left the field without scoring, marking his second consecutive game without a goal for Norway.
Manchester City face financial fallout
City’s next Premier League fixture is an away trip to Liverpool on Sunday, their first match since an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. The club have lodged an appeal and remain under scrutiny after being accused of inflating commercial revenue by £830 million between 2009 and 2018. Pep Guardiola, who backed the owners, posted a message alongside chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, urging supporters to stand together as the club navigates the crisis.
Haaland's injury cloud looms
After limping off, Haaland later returned to the Estádio do Dragão pitch to applaud the fans, notably without his socks. The striker’s condition remains uncertain, with Manchester City awaiting further medical news before their challenging trip to Anfield on Sunday. The injury worry adds another layer of doubt for a side already juggling a congested schedule that includes fixtures against Liverpool, Paris Saint‑Germain and other opponents in the coming weeks.