Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Preview: Odense vs. Viborg FF - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 August 2023, 11:52
Odense welcome Viborg FF to Nature Energy Park for a Danish Superliga clash on Monday night.

After ending up in the Relegation Group last season, Odense have made a more positive start and are still unbeaten.

Match preview

Form here on home soil has been vital for Odense over the past 12 months, as they have only lost once at Nature Energy Park since losing this fixture last season in early September.

Their opening home game of the season proved to be a disappointment though, after conceding a 95th-minute equaliser to throw two points away against Randers.

However, a 95th-minute strike of their own sealed all three points in an impressive win at Brondby last week.

Late substitute Bashkim Kadrii's introduction proved to be the pivotal factor, as he grabbed the last-gasp winner, coming from behind to win 2-1.

There may have been some concerns in the OB camp after a 7-1 annihilation at the hands of Twente in pre-season, but the side have started well.

Viborg meanwhile, have not made as good a start, as an underwhelming opening two games sees them currently sat second bottom.

Just one point in their opening games means only Vejle are currently below Jacob Friis's side, following a thrashing at Nordsjaelland and a draw with Lyngby.

Alarm bells were ringing when Viborg went 2-0 down at home last week inside the opening quarter, but they fought back well to claim a point.

The 4-1 battering by Nordsjaelland continues their woes away from home though, as Viborg have won only two of their last eight, after going on a 13-game unbeaten run earlier last season.

After finishing fourth last season and being just 90 minutes away from Europa Conference League qualification, Viborg would have hoped for a better start than this.

Odense Danish Superliga form:

Viborg FF Danish Superliga form:

Team News

Last season's top scorer Kadrii could move into the Odense starting XI after his heroics off the bench last weekend.

Goalkeeper Martin Hansen is the only current injury concern for OB, after being a late casualty for last week's win.

Hans Bernat stepped in to deputise, and the 22-year-old may be called upon once again by manager Andreas Alm.

Seventeen-year-old Tobias Slotsager is one to watch for the hosts, as he has retained his place at centre-back after becoming a regular late last season.

Defensive duo Zan Zaletel and Mads Lauritsen both returned to the bench last weekend after extended periods on the sidelines.

Teenager Jakob Vester also came back into the matchday squad, but Faroese youth international Martin Agnarsson is out with a broken collarbone.

Odense possible starting lineup:

Bernat; Owusu, Paulsen, Slotsager, Adelgaard; Manneh, Kohler, Al Hajj; Tongya, Kadrii, Horneman

Viborg FF possible starting lineup:

Lund; Anyembe, Burgy, Bonde; Gaaei, Westergaard, Gronning, Bundgaard; Renato Junior, Ementa, Said

We say: Odense 1-1 Viborg FF

Despite their poor start, there should still be more to come from Viborg, and last week's comeback could give them some much-needed confidence.

Previews by email

Top News

23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 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 Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 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.