Last year's Danish Superliga runners-up Nordsjaelland host Viborg FF in their opening game of the new season on Monday.
In a repeat of a fixture from the final day last season, it is one of the standout games on the curtain-raising weekend between two sides who finished in the top four.
Match preview
After a very competitive showing across the whole campaign, it was ultimately anti-climactic for Nordsjaelland, as they squandered the chance to take the title race to the final day.
A surprise 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Brondby on the penultimate weekend handed the title to Copenhagen.
Nordsjaelland had beaten Copenhagen 3-2 just a couple of weeks prior to leave the gap at just one point, but that defeat paired with FCK's win versus Viborg meant the title went to the capital.
A second-placed finish means Nordsjaelland earned a Europa Conference League spot, something which would have been welcomed at the start of the season.
This will be just the second time in 10 seasons that the club will play European football, as they have struggled in the years since current Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand left, after winning the league title in 2012.
Johannes Thorup's men will enter at the third qualifying round, so still face Aarhus and Brondby after this opening game before getting their European adventure underway.
Viborg also enjoyed a positive season in just their second season back at this level, recording their highest league finish since the 2005-06 season.
After three frustrating near misses for promotion, Viborg finally came up for the 2021-22 season, and last season ended with them finishing fourth in the Championship Group.
There was disappointment for Jacob Friis's men though, as they were beaten by Relegation Group winners Midtjylland in the domestic Europa Conference League playoff.
Automatic qualification could have been secured if they finished in the top three, but a run of just one win from their final five games meant they missed out on goal difference.
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Team News
Thorup could give a second Nordsjaelland debut to Marcus Ingvartsen, who has joined in one of the most eye-catching Superliga signings of the summer.
Ingvartsen scored 12 goals for Bundesliga outfit Mainz last season, but has decided to rejoin the club he scored 23 league goals for back in 2016-17, before moving to Genk.
Jeppe Tverskov could also make his debut in midfield after arriving from Odense, where he spent seven impressive years.
Viborg have not been overly active this summer, but they could give a debut to Anoiske Ementa, a recent arrival from Aalborg who scored twice in a friendly against Silkeborg last week.
Nils Mortimer and Nicolas Burgy both missed the latter stages of last season, but the pair are back and available for selection here.
Jakob Vester is recovering from a broken foot and is unlikely to feature until October, while defensive duo Zan Zaletel and Mads Lauritsen are also injured.
The one notable exit for Viborg this summer has been midfielder Clint Leemans who has returned to his home nation to sign for NAC Breda.
Nordsjaelland possible starting lineup:
A Hansen; Villadsen, K Hansen, Jensen-Abbew, Frese; Svensson, Tverskov, Diomande; Osman, Ingvartsen, M Hansen
Viborg FF possible starting lineup:
Lund Pedersen; Gaaei, Anyembe, Burgy, Bundgaard; Westergaard, Gronning, Bonde Jensen; Renato Junior, Ementa, Said
We say: Nordsjaelland 1-1 Viborg FF
Last season's late falter will have been devastating for Nordsjaelland as they came so close to a first title in over a decade, and this will be a tough test to start the new campaign.
After an impressive season, Friis will hope his Viborg side can build on that and start with a positive result.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Andrew Delaney
