Preview: Norway vs. Spain - prediction, team news, lineups

Spain will be looking to keep their hopes of securing top spot in Group A of Euro 2024 qualifying alive when they travel to the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo to face Norway on Sunday evening.

La Roja got the better of the Lions the last time that they locked horns in the reverse fixture seven months ago, securing a 3-0 win in Malaga.

Match preview

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After failing to win any of their opening three Euro 2024 qualifiers, Norway have since come out on top in each of their last three, with two victories over Cyprus taking place either side of a win against Georgia.

The Lions cruised to a 4-0 success away against Cyprus on Wednesday, with Alexander Sorloth opening the scoring on his 50th international appearance before Erling Haaland (2) and Fredrik Aursnes got their names on the scoresheet in the second half.

Seeking to qualify for their first European Championships since 2000, Stale Solbakken's side currently sit third in Group A with 10 points from six games, two points behind Sunday's opponents Spain who have a game in hand.

Norway's solitary win over Spain across nine previous meetings took place in the group stage of Euro 2000, albeit failing to progress to the knockout rounds that year, and they must win again against La Roja on Sunday if they wish to stay in contention to finish in the top two of Group A in Euro 2024 qualifying.

Ranked 43rd in the world by FIFA, the Lions are looking to extend their winning home run to four matches in all competitions for the first time since a streak of seven straight home victories between September 2017 and October 2018.

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Seven months on from their surprise 2-0 defeat away against Scotland, Spain got their revenge over the Tartan Army on Wednesday when they secured all three points via the same scoreline in Seville.

After Scotland's Scott McTominay had a stunning free kick on the hour mark controversially disallowed for an offside in the build-up, La Roja captain Alvaro Morata put the hosts in front in the 73rd minute before Oihan Sancet came off the bench to score on his international debut four minutes from time to seal the victory.

Spain have remarkably extended their unbeaten run in home qualifiers (both Euros and World Cups) to 49 matches, a run dating back to June 2006 that includes 44 wins and five draws, and they have kept 18 clean sheets in their last 23 in the process.

All that ultimately counts for nothing, though, when they face a resurgent Norway outfit in Oslo, with Luis de la Fuente's side needing a win on Sunday to guarantee a top-two finish in Group A to book their place at next year's Euros in Germany.

Spain can afford to drop points against Norway as long as they win both of their remaining two qualifiers against the bottom two nations Georgia and Cyprus, but La Roja will be keen to get the job done on Sunday and knock Scotland off their perch at the summit of Group A.

Success on Sunday is not guaranteed, though, as Spain have only won one of their last four Euro qualifiers away from home, including a 1-1 draw in Norway in October 2019.

Team News

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Norway boss Solbakken is expected to name a similar lineup to the one that beat Cyprus in midweek, with Leo Ostigard and Kristoffer Ajer set to continue at centre-back in between full-backs Julian Ryerson and Birger Meling.

Captain Martin Odegaard will likely link arms with Aursnes and Sander Berge again in centre-midfield, while Haaland and Sorloth could be supported in attack by either Ola Solbakken, Antonio Nusa or Oscar Bobb – the latter of whom earned his first senior cap last time out.

Haaland is remarkably averaging a goal a game at international level, with his brace against Cyprus moving him onto 27 goals from as many matches; the Manchester City striker is just five goals behind Norway's all-time leading scorer Jorgen Juve who played between 1928 and 1937.

As for Spain, they will be without Nico Williams (chest) and Alejandro Balde (thigh) due to injury – the latter of whom was taken off at half time against Scotland – while Lamine Yamal (hip), Yeremy Pino (hamstring), Dani Olmo (knee), Pedri (hamstring), Marco Asensio (foot) and Jose Gaya (thigh) are also unavailable for selection.

Barcelona's Gavi was able to play the full 90 minutes against Scotland despite sustaining a knock in training and he could continue in midfield alongside Rodri and Mikel Merino, although Sancet and Fabian Ruiz will be hoping to force their way into the first XI.

Jesus Navas, who at the age of 37 years and 325 days became Spain's oldest player to provide an assist in the win over Scotland since records began in 2004, will battle with Dani Carvajal for a start at right-back, while Granada winger Bryan Zaragoza will push for his first international start ahead of either Ferran Torres or Mikel Oyarzabal.

Norway possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Ostigard, Meling; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa

Spain possible starting lineup:
Simon; Navas, Le Normand, Laporte, Garcia; Merino, Rodri, Gavi; Torres, Morata, Zaragoza

We say: Norway 1-2 Spain

Norway can ill-afford to let their standards slip in this must-win fixture and will hope that Haaland and co can step up again against a Spain side who have conceded in just two of their last seven qualifiers.

La Roja can qualify for Euro 2024 with a victory in Oslo, and although they are missing a few key players, the visitors should have enough quality in their side to get the job done on Sunday.

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