FC Midtjylland v Southampton
Thursday 27th August – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Football – Europe– Europa League
With the Champions League qualifiers now been and gone, focus shifts to European club football’s secondary competition – the Europa League. It may not carry the same prestige or financial rewards as the Champions League, but it can be a source of revenue for the smaller clubs on the continent, and it now also acts as a passage to automatic entry into next year’s Champions League group stage. As unlikely as it is that either of these clubs will benefit from that, both sides will be aiming to prolong their involvement further than this round.
FC Midtjylland on the Danish title last season but failed to make their desired impact on qualification for the Champions League, being knocked out by Cypriot side APOEL on away goals. The Danes had earlier seen off Maltese minnows Lincoln Red Imps, winning both home and away legs, but their best result was most definitely the 1-1 draw they achieved last Thursday at St Mary’s. They certainly rode their luck at times, and Southampton were guilty of passing up a lot of opportunities, but getting that vital away goal has give them a great chance of making it to the group stage.
English clubs are not usually ones for prioritising the Europa League as it acts as a distraction from their domestic league, where the financial rewards are so great. Playing Thursday nights means they have to play Sunday – at the earliest – which is not advantageous over the course of a season. That being said, however, Ronald Koeman has a different philosophy and see’s European football (of any kind) as a fundamentals part of his squads development. The Dutchman has fielded strong teams in all the games before this one so there’s no reason to expect anything different on Thursday
Midtjylland are slightly further into their domestic season compared to their English opponents having played half a dozen league games. They currently sit top of the table by four points having enjoyed an unbeaten start. Their title success in the previous campaign was built on an excellent home record whereby they won 16 of their 17 games, losing only once. They were also the most potent side in the division scoring 17 more goals than the second highest scorers. They have not quite hit that type of form just yet, but will still be a hard proposition to beat on their own ground.
As has become something of a tradition at Southampton, the summer has seen quite a bit of transfer activity. Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin are amongst those who have departed, leaving for Liverpool and Manchester United respectively. Koeman has went on record to suggest that none of his other star players, including Victor Wanyama and Saido Mane whom interest has been shown, will not leave before the end of the transfer window. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but Mane is expected to miss out on Thursday due to injury.
FC Midtjylland v Southampton
This looks to be a very evenly matched game, with the away goal gained last week in England tipping the balance in the way of the Danish side. Southampton have not been nearly as good as they were last season which is only to be expected considering the influence the players they have lost had on their performances last season. Their performances in Europe have been decent, however, particularly in the previous round when they proved far too strong for Dutch club Vitesse. Southampton ended up running out 5-0 winners on aggregate and a repeat of their 2-0 win in Holland would be most welcome on Thursday.
Midtjylland failed to reach the group stage of this competition last season, fallen at the first hurdle as they lost home and away to Greek club Panathinaikos. Reaching the group stage would represent a significant achievement for the club, especially if they knock out a Premier League club en route. If they are to be successful then they will have to be more of a threat than they were in the away leg. For long periods they were penned in their own half by Southampton and required a spirited defensive effort to survive. I don’t think Koeman’s men will be as merciful if granted the same chances again, and as he has stated the group stage is a target for him this season, I think the Saints are the percentage call here at a shades of odds on. Their style of play seems to suit playing away from home in Europe with the pace they have on the counter.
Southampton 23/20 @ Betfred
