Midtjylland vs Fenerbahce prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2025-01-29 20:00.
[p]Neither Midtjylland nor Fenerbahçe can qualify automatically for the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League (UEL), but both are still in danger of being completely eliminated this Thursday. Midtjylland are in the better position, retaining a two-point buffer from the chasing pack in the top-24 after a 2-0 win over Ludogorets last week which ended a three-match losing streak in this competition.[/p]
[p]That was their first competitive action in over a month owing to Denmark’s winter break, but it did continue a puzzling trend that’s seen their last six competitive results alternate between losses and wins. Going back-to-back will be just what boss Thomas Thomasberg is chasing, with his attack likely to be responsible for any success given that they’ve scored in each of their last 28 home games (W18, D7, L3).[/p]
[p]Fenerbahçe sit a point behind their hosts after a goalless draw against Lyon on matchday seven, but responded with a 3-2 win in the league on Sunday to give manager José Mourinho a happy 62nd birthday. As focus shifts back to the UEL, the Yellow Canaries know that any slip-up here could be fatal for their chances of progression.[/p]
[p]Some of Mourinho’s players will have to banish the demons of a 6-1 thrashing they suffered on their last trip to Denmark against Nordsjælland last season. Thankfully for Fener, that is their only previous defeat against Danish opposition (W3), and the Turkish side have been decent on their travels recently, avoiding defeat in 13 of their last 15 matches (W9, D4, L2), including a 2-1 victory at Slavia Prague in their last UEL trip. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: DarĂo Osorio remains unbeaten when scoring for Midtjylland (W9, D3), with his last two strikes both serving as first half match openers in the UEL. At the other end of the pitch, Youssef En-Nesyri has netted ten goals in Fenerbahçe’s last eight matches – the last four of which have arrived after the break. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: None of Fenerbahçe’s 15 goals scored across UEFA competitions this season have arrived in the opening 25 minutes.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]