MARTIN ØDEGAARD IN FURIOUS SPAT WITH EX-MAN CITY RIVAL BERNADO SILVA DURING NATIONS LEAGUE CLASH

Ødegaard and Silva were previously Premier League rivals when the Portuguese midfielder played for Manchester City

Norway captain Martin Ødegaard was left incensed after receiving a late tackle to his ankle from Portugal’s Bernardo Silva during stoppage time of Sunday's Nations League fixture.

The challenge resulted in a yellow card for Silva in Portugal’s 2-1 victory in Oslo, renewing a rivalry built over years in the Premier League. Silva, who departed Manchester City for Real Madrid in the summer, left a painful reminder on the Arsenal captain.

Ødegaard was captured on camera repeatedly shouting an expletive in English towards his long-term opponent, whom he may face again in Lisbon on Sunday in their Nations League group return match.

"This has no place on a football pitch," Odegaard told Norwegian broadcaster TV2 while limping towards the team bus more than an hour after the final whistle.

The incident took place after Odegaard played a deep left-footed pass from within Norway's half before Silva made a challenge from behind. Silva raised his right foot too late to block the pass, before aiming a kick at the rear of Ødegaard's trailing left foot.

Former Man City star Bernardo Silva attempted to downplay the spat with Odegaard (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)

Asked by Norwegian journalists about the clash that angered Ødegaard, Silva initially responded "What tackle?" in a clip shared by online media outlet Nettavisen.

"It’s football, my friend," stated the 32-year-old playmaker, who spent nine years at Manchester City and won six Premier League titles.

Arsenal and Odegaard finished as runners-up to Man City in two of those title-winning campaigns, in 2023 and 2024, before he captained Arsenal last season to their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Man City and Arsenal currently sit first and second in the standings early in a Premier League season that appears destined to be overshadowed by the long-running legal proceedings against Silva’s former club.

Abu Dhabi-backed Man City were charged with breaking financial regulations over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018, mostly related to sponsorships from the emirate, alongside failing to cooperate with the inquiry.

An independent panel of judges has reportedly found Man City guilty of most of the 115 charges faced, though it remains unclear whether the club's previous titles are vulnerable at a subsequent sanctions hearing.

Man City deny all wrongdoing, and on Saturday club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted in a letter written to fans that "nothing has changed."

- Sam Brookes

HISTORY MADE FOR NORWAY 🇳🇴 🚴‍♀️ 🥇 | TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES 2026

A landmark moment at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift as Sigrid Haugset celebrates her first stage victory and claims the Yellow Jersey for the first time. It's a proud day for Norway, Uno-X Mobility, and cycling fans everywhere.

This unforgettable performance proves that determination, teamwork, and courage can lead to the biggest victories on cycling's grandest stage. 

#TourDeFranceFemmes #SigridHaugset #YellowJersey #UnoXMobility #Norway

VIKING ROW AT THE FIFA WORLD CUP 2026

 

MAGNUS CARLSEN HAD TO FIGHT 'DOUBTS' TO BEAT GUKESH 'WHO WAS UP FOR A FIGHT' AT NORWAY CHESS

It wasn’t a straightforward victory for Magnus Carlsen over D Gukesh at Norway Chess on Thursday. The former world champion had to overcome mental battles to conquer the reigning king.

D Gukesh discussed his mistakes with Magnus Carlsen after losing the match. Image: Norway Chess

Magnus Carlsen had to fight doubts before beating world champion D Gukesh in their latest encounter at the Norway Chess 2026 on Thursday as the world No 1 secured his first Classical victory on the ongoing tournament. So far in the last three rounds, Carlsen had suffered two defeats and secured one win via Armageddon.

But five-time world champion Carlsen turned the tables against Gukesh on the eve of the Indian Grandmaster’s 20th birthday, winning in 42 moves. Gukesh remained solid in the match during the opening and middlegame with the White pieces, but lost the initiative in the endgame under time pressure.

Gukesh was eventually forced to resign as Carlsen picked up a crucial win after tough three rounds.

Carlsen relieved after beating Gukesh

In the post-game interview with Take Take Take, Carlsen said that his recent Classical defeats to Alireza Firouzja and R Praggnanandhaa of India had shaken his confidence, and that the victory over world champion Gukesh had come as a big relief.

“It was a huge relief,” Carlsen said. “After missing a few chances, you get a little bit of doubt, like what it’s going to take for me to get back. Feels really good to get that monkey off the back.

“He was up for a fight today, but so was I.”

There’s no doubt the victory has come as a big relief for Carlsen, even if he remains the top-ranked chess Grandmaster. Amid his recent poor form, his critics have been constantly questioning him holding onto the world No 1 ranking despite playing only a few tournaments.

Hand Niemann, who in 2022 was accused of cheating by Carlsen, has said that FIDE needs to change its ranking methodology to reward the players who are more active on the circuit.

A few other critics have started to signal that it’s the start of the end for Carlsen, but the truth is the Norwegian remains the most consistent player across formats.

- FP Sports Desk

BODØ/GLIMT MAKE NORWEGIAN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY

Bodø/Glimt have officially become the second Norwegian team in HISTORY to reach the Champions League Round of 16 or beyond 🤯🇳🇴

🔥 They've had to beat some of the competition's giants, taking the W from Man City and Atlético Madrid, whilst drawing with Borussia Dortmund 🙇‍♂️

😮‍💨 Now, they've gone one step further and KNOCKED OUT the 2024/25 finalists Inter Milan over two legs.

What a story 🥹

- Onefootball

GIANT-KILLERS BODØ/GLIMT STUN INTER MILAN ONCE AGAIN, KNOCK THEM OUT OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Bodo/Glimt are on the march in the Champions League after dumping out European giants Inter Milan, the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for the tiny club from north of the Arctic Circle.

Bodo/Glimt players celebrate after their win over Inter Milan

Bodo/Glimt are on the march in the Champions League after dumping out European giants Inter Milan, the latest chapter in a remarkable rise for the tiny club from north of the Arctic Circle. Kjetil Knutsen's team reached the last 16 of the biggest club competition on the planet with two wins over last year's beaten finalists -- a 5-2 aggregate victory giving them the greatest result in their history. "I think it's an amazing evening for the club, for the players, for the town and also for Norwegian football," said Knutsen, who has been in charge of Bodo/Glimt since 2018.

"We are not talking about goals, we are talking about how to perform and how we can take steps and develop the players and the team. Now I think that's extremely important. 

"We have our way to do it and that's really important."

Tuesday's triumph was their fourth straight win in the Champions League, with Manchester City and Atletico Madrid also falling in the final two league phase matches, which allowed Bodo/Glimt to snatch a spot in the knockout play-offs.

Bodo/Glimt were only promoted to Norway's top tier, a competition which had been dominated for three decades by Rosenborg of Trondheim, in 2017 but have since been crowned national champions in four of the last six seasons.

And since then, they have slowly risen up the domestic and European ranks, last season becoming the first Norwegian team to play in the semi-finals of a major European competition with their run to the last four of the Europa League.

Before this season, their best result was beating Lazio on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Europa League before being eliminated by Tottenham Hotspur.

But now, the team of no stars with a tiny budget have moved to a whole new level with one of either City or Sporting of Portugal awaiting next month.

- Looking forward -

Bodo/Glimt had previously been considered tricky opposition due to their artificial pitch and the frequently frigid conditions at their 8,200-capacity Aspmyra Stadium.

But they have now added strong away performances to their armoury, with a solid defensive display on Tuesday allowing Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen to dish out two sucker punches.

"I always look forward, so that's how we're thinking. For me, history is not so important," added Knutsen.

It was a rude awakening for three-time winners Inter, whose stature and budget dwarf that of the Norwegians and who are heavy favourites to win Serie A this season.

A pasting at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain might have coloured their last European campaign but Inter got to that final by seeing off Bayern Munich and Barcelona in epic knockout ties.

Inter had much the better in the first half but once Hauge capitalised on Manuel Akanji inexplicably giving the ball away on the edge of his area, there was no way back for the Italians.

"We know that the Champions League is very competitive, if a team reaches this stage of the competition that means that they are offering something," said Inter coach Cristian Chivu.

"They showed that in Dortmund, Madrid, against City and twice against us."

Defeat to Bodo/Glimt was also symbolic after Norway swatted Italy aside twice in World Cup qualifying.

Italy face the prospect of no team reaching the last 16 with Juventus and Atalanta trailing Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund, the latest blow to the reputation of a grand old footballing nation which has since fallen on hard times.

- Agence-France Presse

OLYMPIAN STURLA HOLM LAEGREID CONFESS TO AFFAIR ON NORWEGIAN TV

NOVAK DJOKOVIC LEADS SERBIA INTO UNITED CUP QUARTERFINALS

Reuters 

Novak Djokovic helped Serbia advance to the United Cup quarterfinals and a date with host Australia.

Serbia beat the Czech Republic 2-1 on Tuesday in Perth to win Group E. Djokovic held off Jiri Lehecka 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-1 but the Czechs leveled with Marketa Vondrousova's 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 defeat of Olga Danilovic. Danilovic paired with Hamad Medjedovic for the decisive 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 win in mixed doubles over Petr Nouza and Miriam Kolodziejova.

MAGNUS CARLSEN MAKES HISTORY | CHESS.COM

 

NORWAY'S INGEBRIGTSEN BREAKS 2,000M IN BRUSSELS

Reuters 

Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen broke a 24-year-old world record in the rarely run 2,000 metres in the Diamond League meeting in Brussels on Friday.

On a warm evening in the Belgian capital, the 22-year-old who is the world 5,000 metre champion and Olympic champion at 1,500 metres, set a time of 4 minutes 43.13 seconds to beat the previous record of 4:44.79 by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.

Ingebrigtsen, who set a world record at two miles in Paris in June, said he had been helped by pace-makers going a little further than expected and now had a thirst for further records, from his speciality of 1,500 metres eventually to as much as a marathon.

WHY IS EVERYBODY DOING SHUSH CELEBRATIONS AGAIN | ARCTIC TOUR OF NORWAY 🇳🇴 2023 | STAGE 2

 

EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS | STAGE 1 | ARCTIC TOUR OF NORWAY 🇳🇴 2023

 

IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | CANADA 🇨🇦 VS NORWAY 🇳🇴