Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Midtjyllandvs.AaB

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 August 2024, 23:04
FC Midtjylland will play in front of their home crowd for the first time in the 2024-25 Danish Superliga season on Saturday afternoon when they take on newly promoted Aalborg BK.

The hosts enter gameweek three in unfamiliar territory, currently sat in seventh place in the league standings, while the visitors are just a point better off and one spot above them.

Match preview

It has been a busy start to the season for Midtjylland, who will enter this match just three days after overcoming Santa Coloma 4-0 on aggregate to book their place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

With their European campaign headed in the right direction, the Wolves will now look to get their domestic campaign on track, having failed to win either of their first two matches of the season, drawing 1-1 with AGF and 2-2 against Nordsjaelland last weekend.

The midweek victory was the defending champions' first on home soil in any competition this season, and the result extended their unbeaten record at MCH Arena to five games dating back to mid-April.

Additionally, Thomas Thomasberg's side were prolific at this venue last season, scoring at least two goals in each of their final 12 league home game since September 24.

However, the major consideration for the Midtjylland boss here will be how best to approach this match in terms of personnel selection, given that his side is set to entertain Ferencvaros on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, after earning promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking last term, Aalborg have made a mixed start to the season, losing their opening match to Nordsjaelland before beating fellow newly promoted opposition Silkeborg 2-1 last weekend.

Mathias Jorgensen gave Aab the lead inside the opening 20 minutes of the match and Malthe Hojholt doubled the advantage early in the second half, earning their side a first Superliga victory since May 2023.

That result also marked the first-ever Danish top-flight victory for new boss Menno van Dam, who has been tasked with keeping the side up this season alongside Norwegian tactician Mathias Haugaasen.

While the visitors suffered just five defeats across the whole of last season in the first division, three of those losses came in their last four away games, while they have only won one of their last 10 in the top flight.

FC Midtjylland Danish Superliga form:

W

W

D

D

D

D

Aalborg BK Danish Superliga form:

L

L

W

Team News

Midtjylland will remain without the services of Paulinho, Gue-sung Cho and Marrony, all of whom are suffering from knee injuries and are only expected back next month.

Given the hosts' busy schedule, Thomasberg may consider a few changes here which could see the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Joel Andersson and Andre Roemer return to the starting 11.

After a solid display against Silkeborg last weekend, it would not come as a huge surprise if Van Dam opted to maintain the same starting lineup we saw last week.

Australian international John Iredale, who arrived from German third-tier side Wehen Wiesbaden during the transfer market, will likely lead the line with Viktor Melker operating as the further-forward midfielder.

FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:

Loessl; Roemer, Martinez, Lee, Juninho; Osorio, Andersson, Castillo, Brynhildsen; Chilufya, Buksa

Aalborg BK possible starting lineup:

Mueller; Joergensen, Kramer, Otoa, Arnorsson; Hoejholt, Davidsen, Jorgensen, Widell, Ross; Iredale

We say: FC Midtjylland 2-0 Aalborg BK

While Midtjylland will have one eye on their midweek Champions League qualifier, they will know the importance of getting a result here to remain within striking distance of the league leaders. Aab will not make it easy, but we feel the hosts will do enough to get their first league win of the season.

Previews by email

Top News

22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Djed Spence has been named in the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for their Premier League clash with Liverpool, while Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo get the nod up front for the visitors. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Manchester United were beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth in a defeat that saw Ruben Amorim's side achieve an unwanted record. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville believes that Ruben Amorim will allow Marcus Rashford to leave Manchester United for the sake of 'himself and the club'. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola isn't immune from the sack at Manchester City having continued their unprecedented and dismal run of form. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly earmarked Leeds United shot-stopper Illan Meslier as one of two goalkeeper targets ahead of the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified Burnley's James Trafford as their top transfer target for the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes has reportedly indicated he will take time to consider his future before he commits to a new contract. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Eddie Howe will be nervous about holding onto star striker Alexander Isak at Newcastle as his fine goalscoring form continues. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has named his starting side for Sunday's Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Enzo Maresca has opted to use Levi Colwill as a replacement for the suspended Marc Cucurella for Sunday's Premier League game at Everton. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal broke an English football record in their 5-1 Premier League thrashing of Crystal Palace on Saturday, but it came at a significant cost, as Bukayo Saka was taken off with a suspected hamstring problem in the first half. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku is allegedly generating interest from at least five clubs. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona reportedly remain fully behind head coach Hansi Flick despite the team's latest title setback against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Southampton's new head coach Ivan Juric is one not to be messed with as his physical scrap with Torino's sporting director showed. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to pick up a third straight home win in the Primeira Liga, Vitoria de Guimaraes play host to Nacional at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on Monday. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking for the Red Devils to build a new scouting team in Portugal in a bid to unearth the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is reportedly not interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during next summer's transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool must take advantage of Tottenham Hotspur's considerable weaknesses and will be confident of victory on Sunday according to Reds expert David Lynch. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Union Saint-Jean vs. Monaco (Sunday, 1.45pm) On Sunday, in a David vs. Goliath affair, Union Saint-Jean can pull off one of the biggest upsets in Coupe de France history when they take on Monaco in the round of 64 at Stadium de Toulouse.