(Real Madrid – Sevilla 1–0) On Saturday, he was praised in the major newspaper Marca. On Sunday, Ørjan Håskjold Nyland (33) followed up by almost making it big against Real Madrid.
JUST ALMOST: Ørjan Håskjold Nyland kept a clean sheet for 80 minutes against Real Madrid. Photo: VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA / Reuters / NTB
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Published: 25/02/2024 23:00 | Updated: 26/02/2024 06:22
The Norwegian national team goalkeeper has become a very important man for a Sevilla team that is struggling at the bottom of La Liga.
On Sunday, he kept a clean sheet for over 80 minutes against league leaders Real Madrid, before Luka Modric saved the league leaders in the final minutes.
Nyland made several fine saves in the match – and could do little with Modric’s long shot.
Sevilla have only lost two of 12 league games with Nyland in goal: 0–1 against Barcelona and 0–1 against Real Madrid. Three of them have been won, a total of seven times there have been draws in the series with the Norwegian at the back.
DECIDED: Luka Modric was so happy after he outwitted Ørjan Nyland. Photo: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP / NTB
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Sevilla is all the way down in 15th place, but Nyland has ended up in the spotlight of the Spanish press.
“Everyone is talking about Nyland now,” wrote Marca before the match.
On Saturday it published the Spanish the major newspaper a long interview with Nyland. There, the Norwegian says that he and the club are in talks about extending his contract. The current contract expires next summer.
The goalkeeper was brought in after Sevilla sold Yassine Bounou to Al Hilal. “Since then, he has silenced all the critics,” writes Marca.
Graphics: Sofascore.com
– Did you feel prejudged, without people knowing about you? asks the newspaper.
– That is probably true, yes, but for me it has only been motivation, because I had everything to prove when I arrived. I have always known what I am capable of, replies Nyland.
He was out with a hip injury in November and December, but made a comeback in the new year and has been playing regularly since the end of January. The Norwegian national team goalkeeper must be said to have cut a good figure:
Fact
Sevilla’s results with Nyland between the bars in 2024
- 0–1-tap for Atlético Madrid i Copa del Rey.
- 1–1 mot Osasuna in La Liga.
- 2-1-seier mot Rayo Vallecano and La Liga.
- 1-0 win against Atlético Madrid in La Liga.
- 0–0 mot Valencia and La Liga.
- 0–1-tap for Real Madrid i La Liga.
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– After the injury, I showed that I have worked hard to get back as quickly as possible. For me, it is not important what people say, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. I just want to help the team as much as possible, and lately I have felt that I have managed to do that, says Nyland to Marca.
Already after ten minutes, Nyland had to pick a ball out of the net after a fine goal by Lucas Vázquez. Video judging, however, came to the Norwegian’s rescue.
The TV images showed Nacho kicking Youssef En-Nesyri on the ankle in the lead-up to the goal. Therefore it was cancelled.
The usually sane Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti received a yellow card for protesting.
Photo: JAVIER SORIANO / AFP / NTB
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Otherwise, it was mostly a calm first half for the Norwegian. He made up for it with a solid save on a flailing long shot from Fede Valverde minutes before the break.
Early in the second half, Valverde shot into the post – and then Nyland had to go into action again. Vinicius Junior broke free in the field and tried to screw the ball into the goal, but Nyland was quick on the feet and boxed away the shot.
The Norwegian made several saves in the passing minutes, but in the 81st minute he had to succumb when Modric hit perfectly.
- The next international matches are on 22 and 26 March – against the Czech Republic and Slovakia respectively.