Preview: Aarhus vs. Nordsjaelland - prediction, team news, lineups

Aarhus recorded a 1-0 victory over Vejle in their season opener last weekend, while Nordsjaelland were 4-1 winners over Viborg in their first game of the campaign.

Match preview

Tobias Bech scored the only goal of the clash between Aarhus and Vejle last weekend, with the home side making the perfect start to their campaign.

Aarhus suffered disappointment on Thursday, though, as they lost 3-0 to Club Brugge in the first leg of their second qualifying round contest in the Europa Conference League, leaving them with a lot to do ahead of the second leg on home soil on August 3.

Uwe Rosler's side, who are five-time Danish champions, finished third in the Superliga last season, and they will be aiming to push high up the division once again.

Aarhus were active during the summer market, with Bech proving to be their standout arrival, and the 21-year-old made the perfect start to life at the club with his winner in the league last time out.

The Whites will certainly have one eye on next week's contest with Club Brugge, as they look to complete a huge turnaround, but their current focus will be on the league.

Nordsjaelland, meanwhile, were 4-1 winners over Viborg in their campaign opener, with Ernest Nuamah scoring a brilliant hat-trick during a standout performance.

The Tigers won the Danish Superliga in 2012, while they finished as runners-up last season, which has seen them qualify for the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.

There were only four points between Nordsjaelland and AGF in the table last season, and there is not expected to be much to choose between them during the new campaign.

Johannes Thorup's side made four signings during the summer market, bringing in Marcus Ingvartsen, Jeppe Tverskov, Carljohan Eriksson and Rocco Ascone.

The first leg of Nordsjaelland's third qualifying round clash in the Europa Conference League will take place on August 9, but they have two huge league games before then against AGF and Brondby.

Aarhus Danish Superliga form:

W

Nordsjaelland Danish Superliga form:

W

Team News

Aarhus will again be without the services of Kevin Yakob due to a long-term knee injury.

The home side are otherwise in good shape, though, and there are unlikely to be any surprises when it comes to their starting side for the contest with Nordsjaelland.

A 3-4-3 formation should again see Patrick Mortensen lead the line, while Bech will be bidding to score in successive league games for the club following his recent arrival.

Nordsjaelland have no fresh concerns ahead of this contest, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Viborg last time out.

Indeed, head coach Thorup is unlikely to find a reason to change a winning side, with Nuamah, who scored three times last time out, operating in a wide position.

New signing Ingvartsen should again lead the line for the visitors, while there is also expected to be a start in the middle of midfield for Jeppe Tverskov.

Aarhus possible starting lineup:

Hansen; Molgaard, Tingager, Kristensen; Bejimo, Poulsen, Madsen, Links; Bech, Mortensen, Duelund

Nordsjaelland possible starting lineup:

A Hansen; Villadsen, K Hansen, Jensen-Abbew, Frese; Svensson, Tverskov, Diomande; Nuamah, Ingvartsen, Osman

We say: Aarhus 1-1 Nordsjaelland

This has all of the makings of a very interesting match, and we are expecting it to be very tight. Last season's league table is an indication of how well these two sides are matched, and we are finding it difficult to predict a winner either way in this contest.

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