Austria vs. Norway | UEFA Nations League | Pre Match

The top two in League B Group 3 convene on Sunday evening, as second-placed Austria host leaders Norway in the UEFA Nations League.

The Norwegians will arrive in Linz fresh from continuing their unbeaten start, largely thanks to new all-time top goalscorer Erling Haaland; meanwhile, their hosts smashed four past Kazakhstan.

Having taken just one point from two away fixtures in September - including a 2-1 loss to Norway - Austria were under pressure to produce when Group 3 outsiders Kazakhstan paid them a visit on Thursday.

Although Christoph Baumgartner gave the Austrians an early lead, victory was not fully secured until two goals in three second-half minutes - from Philipp Lienhart and Marcel Sabitzer - put the result beyond doubt, before Matthias Seidl made it 4-0.

Ralf Rangnick's side are now level on points with Slovenia, and both teams are vying to join Norway in the hunt for automatic promotion - the group winners will move straight up to League A, while second place secures a playoff.

Relegated last time around, before making an impressive impact at Euro 2024, Austria are intent on making an instant return to Europe's top tier this season.

However, their final fixture before heading into next month's finale pits them against opponents they have beaten just once in four previous meetings this century - though that sole success did come in the 2020 Nations League.

After overcoming the disappointment of missing out on the Euros once again, Norway's superstar striker Erling Haaland returned to the international scene by bagging a late winner to beat Austria in Oslo.

Haaland - who spent time in the Austrian Bundesliga before embarking on his journey to Manchester via Dortmund - showed his disregard for longstanding records on Thursday evening, when he became his country's highest international scorer.

The 24-year-old registered goal 34 just after the hour mark, scoring his second of the game, with each one notched either side of a strike by fellow forward Alexander Sorloth.

Though Stale Solbakken's side began their 2024-25 campaign with a frustrating goalless draw in Kazakhstan, back-to-back victories have now left them top of Group 3 at the halfway stage, with seven points on the board.

Norway may have been waiting far too long to appear at a major finals, but if they can make it three wins from three this weekend, Haaland and co might soon be mixing with Europe's elite in League A.