FC Midtjylland will be looking to overturn a three-goal deficit in Tuesday’s second leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie against Benfica at Cepheus Park Randers.
Tuesday’s hosts lost 4-1 in Portugal in the first leg last week, so they have it all to do if they are to remain in Europe’s elite competition.
Had Pione Sisto failed to convert the penalty in the 77th minute at Estadio da Luz last Tuesday, there is little doubt that Midtjylland would effectively have been eliminated from the competition after Goncalo Ramos had completed his hat-trick after the break to add to his side’s three unanswered first-half goals.
Rasmus Ankersen’s side finished second for the second successive campaign in the Danish Superliga last season, but they did manage to lift the Danish Cup for only the second time in their history having missed out of the Europa League knockout stage by a point.
Midtjylland have made it to the Champions League group stage just once, when they finished bottom with only two points on the 2020-21 season.
Meanwhile, Benfica reached the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in six years last season, when they ran eventual runners-up Liverpool very close over two legs.
However, there was major disappointment domestically, with a third-placed finish in the Portuguese Primera Liga coming alongside a runners-up medal in the League Cup and a fifth-round exit in the Taca de Portugal.
With Darwin Nunez departing for Liverpool, it remains to be seen whether Benfica can push champions Porto closer in Roger Schmidt’s first season in charge of the club.
Following last week’s first leg, Ramos looks set to fill the goalscoring void of Nunez, as he is likely to be keen for his side to avoid any complacency in Denmark given their huge lead.
FC Midtjylland vs Benfica head to head
The two teams have previously met on just one occasion in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie, where Benfica claimed a 4-1 home win. They meet for the second time in the second leg of the same competition.
Benfica 4-1 Midtjylland 02/08/22
FC Midtjylland latest home form
FC Midtjylland lost 3-1 to Silkeborg in their last home game in the Superliga. However, they have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have been unbeaten in their previous 10 matches. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and also conceded eight.
Midtjylland 3-2 OB 25/06/22
Midtjylland 2-1 AaB 30/06/22
Midtjylland 1-1 Randers 15/07/22
Midtjylland 1-1 AEK Larnaca 19/07/22
Midtjylland 1-3 Silkeborg 22/07/22
FC Midtjylland latest away form
FC Midtjylland have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just one of their four most recent matches. They drew 3-3 with Lyngby in their last away game in the Superliga. In their last five matches, they have scored 11 goals and conceded 11.
Gent 2-1 Midtjylland 09/07/22
AEK Larnaca 1-1(P) Midtjylland 26/07/22
OB 1-5 Midtjylland 29/07/22
Benfica 4-1 Midtjylland 02/08/22
Lyngby 3-3 Midtjylland 05/08/22
Benfica latest home form
Benfica have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have won each of their six most recent matches. They managed to defeat Arouca 4-0 in their last home game in the Primeira Liga. In their last five matches, they have scored 20 goals and conceded six.
Benfica 5-1 Fulham 17/07/22
Benfica 4-2 Girona 22/07/22
Benfica 3-2 Newcastle United 26/07/22
Benfica 4-1 Midtjylland 02/08/22
Benfica 4-0 Arouca 05/08/22
Benfica latest away form
Benfica have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat Reading 2-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded three.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica 13/04/22
Sporting Lisbon 0-2 Benfica 17/04/22
Maritimo 0-1 Benfica 30/04/22
Pacos Ferreira 0-2 Benfica 13/05/22
Reading 0-2 Benfica 09/07/22
FC Midtjylland news
Midtjylland will take to the pitch without Evander, with the midfielder likely to return from a torn muscle towards the end of August.
Raphael Onyedika returned to the starting XI in the 3-3 draw against Lingby, and the 21-year-old is likely to start again so as to provide more midfield steel.
Benfica news
Benfica will travel without Lucas Verissimo as the defender continues his rehabilitation from a ruptured cruciate ligament.
Schmidt is likely to retain the side that started in the 4-0 thrashing of Arouca, but he may look towards the bench in the second half providing the tie looks to be wrapped up.
Prediction and Odds
Following last week’s first leg victory, we are expecting another comfortable victory for Benfica to move themselves within one tie of the Champions League group stage.
While it would be no surprise to see Tuesday’s host score again, the visitors will have too much firepower and quality for them to handle.
Odds: 1 2.32 X 2.05 2 2.15
Probable outcomes
Midtjylland 0-1 Benfica
Midtjylland 0-2 Benfica
Midtjylland 1-2 Benfica
Midtjylland 1-3 Benfica
Midtjylland 2-3 Benfica
