Norwich City dominate Fulham in behind-closed-doors friendly
Norwich City started their 2026 pre-season with a 2-0 win over Premier League Fulham at Motspur Park on Saturday afternoon. The Canaries, sitting ninth in the Championship with 65 points from last season’s 46-game campaign, now head into their next fixture unbeaten in pre-season action.
What happened at Motspur Park?
Anis Ben Slimane broke the deadlock after 19 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball to fire home from close range. Harry Darling doubled the lead just after the hour mark, nodding in from Jacob Wright’s corner after Dylan Jones flicked the ball across goal. Fulham, under new boss Álvaro Arbeloa, made wholesale changes at half-time but struggled to trouble Vladan Kovacevic, who pulled off two smart saves late on.
Mathias Kvistgaarden and Oscar Schwartau led Norwich’s bright start, with Kvistgaarden pressing high to win possession deep before teeing up Slimane for the opener. Matej Jurasek nearly added a second but Bernd Leno tipped his dinked effort over the bar. Fulham’s best chance fell to Kevin, who forced a save from a City defender before the break.
Why it matters for Norwich City
Philippe Clement’s side looked sharp despite resting most of their first-choice attackers. World Cup returnees Slimane, Jose Cordoba and Kenny McLean all featured, while youngsters like Ruairi McConville and Pelle Mattsson earned starts. The win extends Norwich’s unbeaten pre-season run to three games, following a goalless draw with AFC Wimbledon midweek.
Kovacevic enjoyed a quiet afternoon but made crucial interventions, denying Ryan Sessegnon’s deflected strike and Farhaan Ali Wahid’s curling effort. Norwich’s pressing game paid dividends, with Kvistgaarden and Schwartau causing problems early on. The Canaries now turn their focus to next Saturday’s Carrow Road clash with La Liga’s Osasuna, a test for statement signing Andre Brooks.
What comes next for the Canaries?
Norwich face Osasuna at Carrow Road on July 30, a match likely to feature Brooks after his summer arrival. The Under-21s travel to Boreham Wood on Friday, with Ante Crnac expected to play. Cambridge United visit Colney before the Carabao Cup opener against MK Dons, setting up a busy run-in for Clement’s squad.
The Canaries ended the weekend with a 2-0 win, goals from Slimane and Darling keeping their pre-season unbeaten. League standing (final 2025 table -- new season not yet under way): 9th in Championship, 65 pts, 19W-8D-19L from 46 games, recent form LDWWL.
