Ødegaard condemns Real Madrid player after fierce League duel

Martin Ødegaard, the Arsenal midfielder, is furious at Real Madrid player Bernardo Silva after he grabbed him firmly during the Nations League duel between Norway and Portugal. Ødegaard says that such an action does not belong on a football pitch, according to his statements on TV2.

The confrontation occurred in the match in which Portugal won 2-1. Silva struck Ødegaard's ankle with a hard blow, after which the Norwegian captain reported that he would probably not be at full strength that evening. Ødegaard explained: “I got a hit on my ankle, so it will probably not look good tonight.”

Reaction from Norway

All of Norway expressed outrage over Silva’s behaviour. Team‑mate Patrick Berg described the tackle as “horrendous” and “completely deliberate”, and added that it seemed Ødegaard was in a lot of pain. TV2 commentator Simen Stamsø Møller called Silva a “dirty player” and “totally unnecessary”, while colleague Morten Langli condemned the “unsporting behaviour” of the Real player.

Silva refused to offer his apologies and stated in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper Nettavisen that “these kinds of things happen in football”. His response was considered insufficient by the Norwegian media, especially because Ødegaard had already voiced full criticism during the match.

Outlook and upcoming confrontations

The two nations will face each other again next Sunday, which will further stoke the rivalry. In addition, Real Madrid will meet Arsenal on 9 December in the Champions League, a match that gains extra significance now that both players are competing for their clubs in the European competition.

Ødegaard concluded after the match that Silva “has completely lost his head” and that “tackles like this do not belong on a football pitch”. He emphasized that such unsporting behaviour is “a disgrace” for the game. The tension between the two number‑tens continues to rise, and the upcoming duels promise even more drama.