Haaland Injury Scare as Norway Star Limps Off Against Portugal

Erling Haaland gave Manchester City and Norway fans a fright on Sunday night, limping off in the 67th minute of Norway's 2-1 UEFA Nations League defeat to Portugal in Porto.

The striker asked to be substituted, a moment that immediately sparked anxiety among City supporters with a huge Premier League fixture looming. Haaland was seen moving gingerly as he left the pitch, and the timing could hardly be worse for his club.

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken moved to calm fears after the match, citing workload concerns as the reason for the change. Haaland started all four of Norway's matches during this international window, an unusually heavy load for a player who also leads the line for his club.

The stakes for City are enormous. Pep Guardiola's side travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Oct 11 in a clash that could shape the title race, and losing Haaland — who has scored seven goals in six games this season — would be a seismic blow.

City's medical team will now assess the striker when he returns to Manchester. For now, Norway and City will both be holding their breath, hoping this scare amounts to nothing more than fatigue.