The Danish Superliga kicks off its 2024/25 season with a tantalizing clash between AGF Aarhus and reigning champions FC Midtjylland at Ceres Park on Friday. Both sides will be eager to start their campaigns on a high note in what promises to be a closely contested affair.
AGF, who finished a respectable 5th last season, will be looking to build on their strong end to the previous campaign. The Whites closed out 2023/24 with back-to-back victories, including an impressive 3-2 win over Copenhagen.
Manager Uwe Rosler has bolstered his squad with some shrewd summer acquisitions, most notably Swedish goalkeeper Leopold Wahlstedt from Blackburn Rovers. The 25-year-old shot-stopper could be in line for his competitive debut.
However, AGF will have to contend with several injury concerns. Key players Tobias Anker, Janni Serra, and Mikkel Duelund are all sidelined, while experienced midfielder Tobias Molgaard remains out with a long-term injury sustained in March. The hosts will also be without Kevin Yakob, who continues his recovery from an ACL injury suffered last June.
Despite these setbacks, AGF still boast considerable firepower up front. Patrick Mortensen, who netted 13 goals last term, will spearhead the attack alongside the promising Tobias Bech. The creative midfield trio of Mads Emil Madsen, Nicolai Poulsen, and Gift Links will be crucial in supplying ammunition to the forwards.
Midtjylland, on the other hand, enter the new season as favorites after clinching the title in dramatic fashion on the final day of 2023/24.
The Wolves have been active in the transfer market, bringing in goalkeeper Elias Olafsson, defender Denil Castillo, and Polish international striker Adam Buksa. The latter, who scored for Poland in the recent European Championship, could prove to be a game-changer for Thomas Thomasberg’s side.
The champions will be without South Korean forward Gue-sung Cho, who is nursing a knee injury, while Brazilian striker Marrony remains unavailable due to a long-term setback. Nevertheless, Midtjylland’s squad depth should see them field a formidable lineup.
Key to their chances will be the prolific Franculino Djú, who found the net 11 times last season. The Cape Verdean forward is likely to be supported by the dynamic Ola Brynhildsen, with Oliver Sørensen pulling the strings in midfield. Midtjylland’s backline, marshaled by the experienced Mads Bech, will need to be at their best to contain AGF’s attacking threats.
Recent head-to-head encounters favor the visitors, with Midtjylland winning four of the last six meetings between the sides. Their most recent clash saw the Wolves emerge 2-1 victors. However, AGF did manage to secure a 3-0 win in this fixture back in November 2021, proving they’re more than capable of upsetting the odds.
Statistics suggest we could be in for a goal-fest. AGF averaged 1.4 goals per game at home last season, while Midtjylland netted an impressive 1.9 goals per away match. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in 15 of Midtjylland’s last 20 games across all competitions.
As the Danish football community eagerly anticipates the return of Superliga action, this opening day clash between AGF and Midtjylland promises to set the tone for what should be an enthralling season ahead. With both teams harboring ambitions of challenging for the title, expect a fiercely contested battle that could go right down to the wire.
Predicted lineups:
AGF Aarhus (3-5-2): Bech, Madsen, Poulsen, Tingager, Anderson, Wahlstedt, Mortensen, Jensen-Abbew, Links, Dalsgaard, Beijmo
FC Midtjylland (4-4-2): Askildsen, Brynhildsen, Castillo, Diao, Paulinho, Franculino, Simsir, Sørensen, Bech, Andersson, Olafsson
Kick-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM local time at Ceres Park, Aarhus. Football fans across Denmark and beyond will be tuning in to witness the start of what promises to be another thrilling Superliga campaign.
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