FC Midtjylland will play in front of their home crowd for the first time in the 2024-25 Danish Superliga season on Saturday afternoon when they take on newly promoted Aalborg BK.
The hosts enter gameweek three in unfamiliar territory, currently sat in seventh place in the league standings, while the visitors are just a point better off and one spot above them.
Match preview
It has been a busy start to the season for Midtjylland, who will enter this match just three days after overcoming Santa Coloma 4-0 on aggregate to book their place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
With their European campaign headed in the right direction, the Wolves will now look to get their domestic campaign on track, having failed to win either of their first two matches of the season, drawing 1-1 with AGF and 2-2 against Nordsjaelland last weekend.
The midweek victory was the defending champions' first on home soil in any competition this season, and the result extended their unbeaten record at MCH Arena to five games dating back to mid-April.
Additionally, Thomas Thomasberg's side were prolific at this venue last season, scoring at least two goals in each of their final 12 league home game since September 24.
However, the major consideration for the Midtjylland boss here will be how best to approach this match in terms of personnel selection, given that his side is set to entertain Ferencvaros on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, after earning promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking last term, Aalborg have made a mixed start to the season, losing their opening match to Nordsjaelland before beating fellow newly promoted opposition Silkeborg 2-1 last weekend.
Mathias Jorgensen gave Aab the lead inside the opening 20 minutes of the match and Malthe Hojholt doubled the advantage early in the second half, earning their side a first Superliga victory since May 2023.
That result also marked the first-ever Danish top-flight victory for new boss Menno van Dam, who has been tasked with keeping the side up this season alongside Norwegian tactician Mathias Haugaasen.
While the visitors suffered just five defeats across the whole of last season in the first division, three of those losses came in their last four away games, while they have only won one of their last 10 in the top flight.
Team News
Midtjylland will remain without the services of Paulinho, Gue-sung Cho and Marrony, all of whom are suffering from knee injuries and are only expected back next month.
Given the hosts' busy schedule, Thomasberg may consider a few changes here which could see the likes of Emiliano Martinez, Joel Andersson and Andre Roemer return to the starting 11.
After a solid display against Silkeborg last weekend, it would not come as a huge surprise if Van Dam opted to maintain the same starting lineup we saw last week.
Australian international John Iredale, who arrived from German third-tier side Wehen Wiesbaden during the transfer market, will likely lead the line with Viktor Melker operating as the further-forward midfielder.
FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Loessl; Roemer, Martinez, Lee, Juninho; Osorio, Andersson, Castillo, Brynhildsen; Chilufya, Buksa
Aalborg BK possible starting lineup:
Mueller; Joergensen, Kramer, Otoa, Arnorsson; Hoejholt, Davidsen, Jorgensen, Widell, Ross; Iredale
We say: FC Midtjylland 2-0 Aalborg BK
While Midtjylland will have one eye on their midweek Champions League qualifier, they will know the importance of getting a result here to remain within striking distance of the league leaders. Aab will not make it easy, but we feel the hosts will do enough to get their first league win of the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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