Preview: FC Midtjylland vs. Sporting Lisbon – prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League clash between FC Midtjylland and Sporting Lisbon, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
FC Midtjylland And Sporty Lisbon are back in action European League when they play in the second leg of the playoffs in the MCH Arena on Thursday.
After last week’s first leg ended in a draw, there is still a place in the round of 16 up for grabs in what’s set to be a thrilling and thrilling contest.
game preview
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No matter how the game ended Albert Capellas will be proud of his side’s first-leg performance as Midtjylland held Primeira Liga powerhouses Sporting Lisbon to a 1-1 draw in Lisbon last Thursday.
Egyptian midfielder Emam Ashour opened the scoring at the Estadio Jose Alvalade to put the Danish team ahead in the 77th minute and with victory within reach. Sebastian Coates jumped the highest to equalize in the fourth minute of added time.
Wolves added another class to their Europa League performance as they drove with a Danish youngster to a 4-0 league win over Viborg on Monday Gustav Isaksen scored a sensational hat-trick in the second half.
Before that, Midtjylland went five straight games without a win in the Superliga, where they are currently fourth in the league with 26 points from 18 games.
The Danish side, who finished second in Group F of the Europa League, go into Thursday unbeaten in their last six games, claiming three wins and three draws since November’s 3-1 defeat by Viborg in the Danish Cup.
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Sporting Lisbon, meanwhile, returned to winning ways in the Primeira Liga when they defeated a stubborn Chaves side 3-2 at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira on Monday.
After Pedro Goncalves And João Teixeira scored for both sides at the end of the first half, Goncalves and Nuno Santos scored a net in nine minutes to give the visitors the lead beforehand Hector Hernandez grabbed a consolation in the 96th minute.
Earlier on 12 February, the 19-time Primeira Liga champions ended their run of three straight league wins with a 2-1 defeat by rivals Porto.
Following Monday’s result, Sporting Lisbon are now four games away without defeat and have recorded three wins and a draw since losing 1-0 at Maritimo on 8 January.
Reuben AmorimThe Argentine side, who played the first half of the Champions League season before their early exit, currently sit fourth in the Primeira Liga table, eight points behind third-placed Braga in the Champions League qualifying play-off spot.
While Sporting Lisbon will look to secure four straight away wins and secure a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, they travel to the MCH Arena, where Midtjylland are unbeaten in nine of their last ten games, recording six wins and three draws since the first week of September.
Form of FC Midtjylland in the Europa League:
Form of FC Midtjylland (all competitions):
Form of the Sporting Lisbon Europa League:
Form of Sporting Lisbon (all competitions):
Team News
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Midtjylland has to do without a midfielder Emiliano Martinezwho will serve a one-game ban after exceeding the yellow card hurdle with his warning in the first leg.
On the injury front, Capellas will not have the Brazilian striker to fall back on Junior Brumadowho missed the last two games due to injury.
Isaksen produced a top quality performance in Monday’s league games and we expect the 21-year-old to lead the hosts’ attack again Fredrik Heiselberg And Waldemar Andreasen.
In the meantime, Daniel Braganca remains out of contention for the Lisbon outfit after the Portuguese midfielder tore his cruciate ligament last May.
After missing two straight games through injury, Hidemasa Morita returned to action against Chaves when he was given a 30-minute cameo and the 27-year-old should be fit enough to start Thursday’s XI.
With twice in the aforementioned game, Goncalves has now been involved in seven goals in his last eight games and the 24-year-old striker will be one to watch out for.
FC Midtjylland possible starting line-up:
lossl; Andersson, Dalsgaard, Gartenmann, Paulinho; Gigovic, Sorensen, Olsson; Isaksen, Heiselberg, Andreasen
Sporting Lisbon possible starting line-up:
Adam; Juste, Coates, Rice; Esgaio, Morita, Ugarte, Santos; Goncalves, Edwards, Paulinho
We say: FC Midtjylland 1-2 Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon have failed to prevail at home and face a tough 90 minutes at the MCH Arena, where Midtjylland have shown resilience in recent weeks. Whilst the Danish side will be looking to build on last week’s result, Amorim’s side have the firepower to get the job done and we support them to get that result across the line.
For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, goal scores and more for this game, please click here.