FC Midtjylland and AEK Larnaca will begin their UEFA Champions League qualification campaign when they face off in the first leg of their second-round qualifying fixture at the MCH Arena on Tuesday night with kickoff at 20:45.
Midtjylland finished second in the 2021/21 Danish Superliga to book a place in this round of the Champions League qualifiers, while Larnaca also settled for the runner-up spot in the Cypriot First Division securing them a place in the second round of this qualifiers.
Bo Henriksen’s Midtjylland missed out again on the top spot in the Superliga for the third time 3in four seasons last term, finishing three points behind champions FC Copenhagen. The top spot would have secured them a place in the playoff round of Champions League qualifiers, but the Wolves will now have fight for a spot in that round in the second round of the qualifiers.
Midtjylland opened their 2022/23 Danish Superliga campaign last Friday night at home where they recorded a 1-1 draw against Randers, with Gustav Isaksen opening the scores for the Wolves in 54th minute before Adan Andersson drew the visitors level six minutes later.
Midtjylland’s main target this new season will be to win their domestic league title, but they also want to have a successful spell in the Champions League and thus will be hoping to go all through to the group stage of the competition.
Meanwhile, AEK Larcana are still searching for their first ever Cyprian title and came so close last term, finishing four points behind champions Apollon Limassol. Jose Luis Oltra is the new man in the hotseat as the Spaniard attempts to finally steer Larnaca to a league crown, and his side have navigated four pre-season friendlies unbeaten with plenty of goals in tow.
However, before they open their domestic campaign later next month, Jose Luis Oltra’s side will be looking to make it to the group stage of the Champions League and will start their qualification process in the second round against FC Midtjylland.
Midtjylland vs Larnaca head to head
This will be the first time the two go head to head and we expect a closely-fought encounter, considering the occasion. Take a look at the previous results.
Home
- Midtjylland1-1 Randers
- Gent 2-1 Midtjylland
- Midtjylland 2-1 Aalborg
- Midtjylland 3-2 Odense
- Odense 3-4 Midtjylland (AP)
Away
- APOEL 2-2 Larnaca
- Kisvarda FC 2-2 Larnaca
- Apollon Limassol 0-1 Larnaca
- Larnaca 2-0 Pafos
- Larnaca 1-1 Aris Limassol
FC Midtjylland team news
Midtjylland will be without Junior Brumado due to a knee injury, while Pione Sisto has been ostracized from the squad after a falling out with the powers-that-be.
AEK Larnaca team news
AEK Larnaca have no fresh injury reports in their squad, although Andreas Paraskecas is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament rupture.
Prediction and odds
- Double chance (1, X)
- Both sides to sore
- Goals over 2.5
