FC Midtjylland will be looking to record back-to-back wins at the beginning of the new Danish Superliga campaign when they welcome Silkeborg to MCH Arena in Herning on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts narrowly beat recently-promoted Hvidovre last time out, while Silkeborg were unable to earn any points from a trip to Brondby last weekend in their season opener.
Match preview
© Reuters
Midtjylland commenced their 2023-24 Superliga campaign with a well-deserved victory over top-flight newcomers Hvidovre at MCH Arena last Friday, although earning the maximum was not a straightforward process.
The Old Giants' stopper Filip Djukic produced a marvellous save to deny Gustav Isaksen from the penalty spot in the first half, but South Korean Cho Gue-Sung made the net ripple in the 56th minute to secure all three points for the hosts.
Sunday will be the third time Thomas Thomasberg's men have turned out at their Herning home in nine days, with goals from Henrik Dalsgaard and former Cardiff City man Sory Kaba ensuring a 2-0 win over Luxembourg's FC Progres Niederkorn in the first leg of their Europa Conference League qualification clash.
The Wolves managed to put themselves on the continental stage this term despite finishing seventh in the Superliga in 2022-23 - a 1-0 victory over Viborg on June 9 secured Thomasberg's charges an unlikely berth in Europe.
Midtjylland struggled on home soil last campaign and actually collected more points away from MCH Arena, with the Herning-based club only winning six of their 16 Superliga home encounters last campaign.
© Reuters
Silkeborg will be aiming to compete for the European spots once again this season after a disappointing eighth-placed finish in the Superliga - one which left them stranded and with little to play for towards the end of the campaign.
SIF featured in a tricky Conference League group alongside Anderlecht and eventual winners West Ham United in 2022, but their quest to return to such competitions started off on a bad note last weekend against Jesper Sorensen's Brondby.
All began swimmingly for the hosts at JYSK Park, with Tonni Adamsen putting them in front after just five minutes, although strikes either side of the half-time interval from Nicolai Vallys and Hakon Evjen secured an away maximum for the Boys from Vestegnen.
Neutrals on Sunday afternoon should expect an exciting contest, as no other matchup in the Superliga last season produced more goals than Midtjylland versus Silkeborg, with the net rippling a staggering 19 times in four games.
- W
- W
- W
- L
Team News
Midtjylland will be without the services of right-back Joel Andersson on Sunday afternoon, with the Swedish defender currently sidelined because of an ankle injury sustained in July.
The hosts will also be unable to utilise the attacking talents of Junior Brumado this weekend, as the Brazilian continues to recover from a knock sustained last month.
Silkeborg have their own Joel out of action, with centre-back Joel Felix a doubt for the trip to MCH Arena - the Dane has not featured for SIF since the Wolves came to JYSK Park on March 19.
Iceland international Stefan Thordarson was an integral member of the visitors' engine room last season, but the 24-year-old has started this term on the sidelines due to a knock.
FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Lossl; Dalsgaard, Ingason, Juninho, Paulinho; Sorensen, Olsson, Martinez, Simsir; Isaksen, Cho
Silkeborg possible starting lineup:
Larsen; Sonne, Salquist, Busch, Engel; Mattson, Brink, Klynge; Tengstedt, Carlsen, Adamsen
We say: FC Midtjylland 2-1 Silkeborg
Midtjylland have made relatively easy work of inferior opposition over the past two matches, but the Wolves now face a Silkeborg side who will be able to pose problems for the hosts on Sunday.
SIF lost out against Brondby last weekend despite having the lion's share of possession and chances, and we expect Kent Nielsen's men to fall to successive defeats at the start of their Superliga season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
