Norway 3-2 Denmark: Haaland brace decides Scandinavian scuffle in Nations League

Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway opened their Nations League campaign with an entertaining 3-2 win over Denmark, despite finishing the game with 10 men.

Having trailed 2-0 after just 18 minutes, Denmark fought back valiantly to level Thursday's matchup between Scandinavian rivals, but Haaland's second goal proved to be the winner, with the hosts surviving a late red card for David Moller Wolfe.

Two of Norway's other Premier League stars combined to give them the advantage in the 14th minute, as Oscar Bobb took in Martin Odegaard's cute pass, then shaped a curling finish around Denmark defender Oliver Provstgaard and into the far corner.

And Norway did not have to wait long for their second goal, as Antonio Nusa skipped infield and played a clever reverse pass in behind for Haaland, whose driven finish went straight through Filip Jorgensen.

Denmark found a route back into the contest in the 25th minute, with Mikkel Damsgaard's free-kick dipping over the Norway wall and beating Orjan Nyland, though only a superb reflex stop from Jorgensen prevented Patrick Berg from making it 3-1 late in the first half. 

And the visitors drew level on the hour mark, with Rasmus Hojlund reacting quickest to nod home when Nyland blocked Morten Hjulmand's downward header from a corner.  

But Haaland re-established Norway's lead when he lashed inside the near post following a well-worked corner routine that saw Odegaard receive a short pass from Nusa, reach the byline, and cut the ball back for the Manchester City talisman. 

Moller Wolfe received his second yellow card three minutes into stoppage time, having blocked Gustav Isaksen's run down the right as Denmark chased another equaliser, but Norway held on.

New Nations League campaign, same old Haaland

Haaland's staggering form was one of the stories of this summer's World Cup, as he almost single-handedly powered Norway into the quarter-finals with seven goals in five games.

And he picked up where he left off at the start of their Nations League Group A4 campaign, scoring twice from a game-high five shots (four of which were on target), although his goals were hardly put on a plate, with all those efforts adding up to 0.35 expected goals (xG). 

Haaland has now scored in 10 of his last 13 competitive games for Norway and Man City combined (16 goals in total), and in each of his last six (nine goals).

He last enjoyed a longer run between August and October 2025, going 12 straight matches with a goal. With two meetings against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to come during this international break, either side of a trip to Wales, Stale Solbakken will be desperate to see that streak continue.