Matchday in focus: FC Midtjylland | OneFootball

Brief history, successes, coach, tactics, stadium and key players: a closer look at the Danish champions.

The opposition

Football Club Midtjylland was founded on 2 February 1999 and plays in the 3F Superliga, Denmark’s highest division. In the current season they occupy second place after 16 matchdays, level on points with leaders FC Copenhagen. Since promotion in the club’s first season in 2000, the Wolves have been a permanent fixture in the top flight.

Since the club’s formation, a result of a merger between Herning Fremad and Ikast FS, Midtjylland have won four Superliga titles: 2015, 2018, 2020 and 2024.

The stadium

Midtjylland play their home games at the MCH Arena, built in 2004. The stadium is located in the Danish town of Herning in the region of Mid Jutland (Midtjylland) and holds 11,809 spectators.

The coach

Thomas Thomasberg was appointed head coach in 2023. The 50-year-old, who also made 37 appearances for the club as a midfielder between 2000 and 2003, has been in the dugout for 79 games to date.

As well as the Superliga title with Midtjylland last season, his achievements include winning the Danish Cup with Randers FC and the Danish second division with Hobro IK.

Tactics

Thomasberg predominantly prefers a 4-4-2 formation. In front of 2.01-metre-tall goalkeeper Elías Ólafsson, who currently ranks sixth in the Europa League for shots saved with 83.3 percent, the first-choice back four consists of ex-Wolfsburg man Kevin Mbabu, Ousmane Diao, Mads Bech Sørensen and Joel Andersson.

Denil Castillo, Emiliano Martínez and Oliver Sørensen vie for the central midfield berths, while the wings are normally occupied by Darío Osorio and Aral Şimşir, who has set up six shots on goal in the league phase. Adam Buksa and Jan Kuchta mostly form the front two, with Franculino Djú also an option.

Form

Although the Danish defending champions are on track in the table, they have lost ground in recent weeks. Having gone the first 10 games of the season without defeat, Midtjylland have lost four of their last six league encounters. Similarly in the UEFA Europa League, after seven points from the first three matches, the Wolves went down to their first defeat against FCSB, losing 2-0 in Bucharest.

Franculino has particularly caught the eye with 10 goals in all competitions, including five in the league. Behind him are Buksa – who scored the winner in Monday’s 1-0 victory against Silkeborg – and Oliver Sørensen with five goals each.

Absentees

Gue-sung Cho (knee surgery) and Kristoffer Olsson (head injury) are currently unavailable for the hosts. Franculino, Marrony, Osorio, Simsir and Christian Sørensen are all doubts.

Head-to-head

This is the first meeting between the two sides.

Runs and statistics

Eintracht are unbeaten in 17 games in the Europa League (W10, D7). If they continue that run on Thursday, the Eagles would equal the current record set by Chelsea.