Aarhus commence their 2023-24 campaign with a home clash against newly-promoted Vejle at Ceres Park on Sunday afternoon in the Danish Superliga.
The hosts will be looking to challenge for the Danish crown this term after finishing off the pace in 2022-23, whilst Vejle will be hoping to avoid an immediate return to the second tier.
Match preview
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A 3-3 draw against Brondby on the final day of last season secured a third-placed finish and Europa Conference League football for Aarhus, however Sunday's hosts are being touted as a side who could fight for the title this term.
Former Leeds United and Wigan Athletic manager Uwe Rosler joined the Arhusians in August 2022 following the club's escape from relegation during the 2021-22 term, and the German has helped his men to a much-improved standing last season.
Aarhus have lost just one of their five matches in pre-season, with that defeat coming against Midtjylland last Sunday, as Rosler's charges ended up on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller.
Patrick Mortensen bagged a brace for the hosts last time out at Ceres Park, and the 34-year-old is the Superliga's top goalscorer over the past five campaigns.
With a two-legged meeting with Club Brugge in the Europa Conference League coming up for Aarhus over the next fortnight, Rosler's charges will know a lot about the direction of their season by this time next month.
Vejle make their return to the Superliga this Sunday following a one-year absence from the top tier of Danish football, after the club finished 11th during the 2021-22 term.
The Red and Blues dominated the second tier of Denmark from start to finish last season, winning the division and finishing 11 points ahead of third-placed Sonderjyske.
A hallmark of Ivan Prelec's title-claiming side was their defensive solidity, with Vejle conceding just 30 goals in 32 matches last campaign with Tobias Jakobsen between the sticks - 11 fewer than any other outfit in the division.
The boys from Norreskoven were not at their watertight best in their recent pre-season friendly however, as Kolding managed to score three times at Autocentralen Park on July 6.
A trip to Ceres Park followed by a home clash against champions Copenhagen represents a challenging start to the Superliga term for the top-flight newcomers - one which will test whether their impressive defensive record will hold up against high-level opposition.
Team News
Aarhus will be unable to rely on the services of midfielder Kevin Yakob on Sunday, with the 22-year-old suffering a cruciate ligament injury in June which is expected to keep him sidelined until 2024.
The hosts dipped into the German market in this summer's transfer window, and Tobias Bech, Michael Akoto and Janni Serra could all make their Superliga debuts on the weekend.
Vejle have added to their goalkeeping department during the off-season, recruiting Igor Vekic and Nathan Trott from NK Bravo and West Ham United respectively.
Kristian Kirkegaard was the Red and Blues' leading scorer last term with nine goals, and the 25-year-old will be hoping to impress during his first season in the Superliga.
Aarhus possible starting lineup:
Hansen; Molgaard, Tingager, Bech; Beijmo, Brandhof, Bjur, Links; Duelund, Anderson, Mortensen
Vejle possible starting lineup:
Trott; Velkov; Albentosa, Provstgaard; Lauritsen, Barry, Hetemi, Elvius; Kirkegaard, Drammeh, Onugkha
We say: Aarhus 1-0 Vejle
Aarhus will be looking to challenge the likes of Copenhagen for the Superliga crown this term, and home matches against newly-promoted sides are fixtures that they should be picking up maximum points in.
Vejle made a name for being defensively solid last season, and we believe they will frustrate their hosts at Ceres Park for a period before ultimately falling short.
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Top tip
Carter White
