Midtjylland (Den) vs Ferencvaros (Hun) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-08-05 17:15.
[p]As one of just two teams to progress through the second qualifying round with two clean sheets, FC Midtjylland certainly deserve another chance at getting beyond the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League (UCL). They fell at this hurdle at the previous time of asking – losing to Cypriot club AEK Larnaca in a penalty shootout – but should be confident of going one better having put together a ten-game competitive unbeaten streak (W6, D4) across two seasons. [/p]
[p]Head coach Thomas Thomasberg is confident that new signing Victor Bak will return after missing the second leg of the UCL win over UE Santa Coloma and hopeful that Brazilian Paulinho will return to strengthen the team. He’ll be hoping those returnees can help them move one step closer to reaching the UCL group/league stage for the first time since 2020/21, but a home record of one win in five UCL qualifiers (D2, L2) since then offers no assurances that they’ll get this two-legged tie against Hungary’s Ferencváros off to a winning start.[/p]
[p]Ferencváros are in much the same situation as their Danish hosts, in that they too made their most recent UCL group/league stage appearance in 2020/21, only to finish winless and last in their group along with Midtjylland. A 7-1 aggregate win over Welsh champions The New Saints kicked off their first set of competitive games under new manager Pascal Jansen, prior to opening their league season with a 1-0 win over Kecskeméti.[/p]
[p]Jansen has extensive experience in UEFA competitions as the former boss of AZ Alkmaar, as does new signing Kady Borges who represented Qarabağ in continental football across two seasons. Ferencváros are now seasoned travellers and have punched above their weight on the road in recent seasons. Not only was their home and away record precisely the same (W4, D2, L1 each) in last season’s Conference League, but the Hungarians also earned a win or draw in each of their last five UCL qualifying round away games. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: The 20-year-old Bissau-Guinean forward Franculino Djú recorded either a goal or assist in both of Midtjylland’s games in the second qualifying round, whilst midfielder Kristoffer Zachariassen was on the scoresheet in both of Ferencváros’ victories over TNS. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ferencváros conceded 2+ goals in only one of their last nine UEFA away matches. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]