Haaland vs Gabriel battle: Norwegian has last laugh over Arsenal rival as Brazil crash out
By Luke Oluoch, July 6, 2026Brazil’s shock exit from the World Cup has thrust the rivalry between Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhães back into the spotlight, with fans and pundits dissecting their latest heavyweight battle.
While the first half of the Round of 16 meeting seemed evenly poised, the encounter took a sudden turn after the break as Norway imposed itself on the game.
The Europeans’ resolute defending, coupled with heroic saves from their goalkeeper, proved crucial before
Erling Haaland finally broke the deadlock, beating Gabriel to a header from six yards out to give Norway the lead.
From EPL to the world stage
Among the key pre-match talking points was the tactical battle between Haaland and Gabriel, reigniting a fierce rivalry that has captivated Premier League fans during Manchester City’s recent title duels with Arsenal.
Ultimately, the Norwegian striker got the last laugh, silencing the South Americans with a clinical brace.
In the aftermath of the defeat, pundits have placed Gabriel at the centre of blame for the goals conceded. Although coach Carlo Ancelotti had dismissed assertions that the task of thwarting Haaland would fall solely on Gabriel, the defender was repeatedly exposed during the encounter.
Haaland proved to be a lethal goal threat all evening with his explosive runs and intelligent movement inside the box. Haaland’s explosive runs and intelligent movement caused chaos early on, forcing Gabriel and Marquinhos into a sloppy clearance that Martin Ødegaard nearly punished, only to fire straight at Alisson Becker.
Haaland puts Brazilians to the sword
For Norway’s opening goal, questions will be asked about how the backline allowed a striker acclaimed for his aerial prowess so much space and time to attack the ball from six yards out. Gabriel came out second best, left in a heap as Norway celebrated a massive breakthrough with less than ten minutes to play.
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While not entirely at fault for the second goal, Gabriel and his defensive partners were again questioned for their positioning at this critical juncture of the encounter. They allowed the Norwegian the time and space to steady himself before burying a low drive past Alisson.
Ultimately, the narrative remains unchanged on the global stage: Haaland, who has now scored in each of his last four Premier League games against Gabriel, once again dominated his Arsenal rival in a fierce rivalry that keeps on giving.