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[monks data]
Aug 9, 2022 at 6.45pm UK at MCH Arena
Midtjylland
1 - 3
Benfica
Sisto (63')
Onyedika (69')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Fernandez (23'), Araujo (56'), Goncalves (88')
Ramos (29'), Silva (40')

Preview: FC Midtjylland vs. Benfica - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between FC Midtjylland and Benfica, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

FC Midtjylland host Benfica in the third-round of Champions League Qualifying on Tuesday.

The Danes lost 4-1 in Portugal in the first leg last week, so have it all to do if they are to remain in Europe's elite competition.


Match preview

Midtjylland's Charles celebrates with Erik Sviatchenko after the match on February 17, 2022© Reuters

Indeed, Rasmus Ankersen's side were second best throughout the 90 minutes at Estadio da Luz last Tuesday, with their only shot on target across the game being Pione Sisto's converted penalty in the 77th minute.

Had the Danish winger failed to tuck the ball away from 12 yards, there is little doubt that Midtjylland would effectively have been dumped out of the competition after Goncalo Ramos had completed his hat-trick after the break to add to his side's three unanswered first-half strikes.

Midtjylland finished second for the second successive season in the Danish Superliga last time around, but they did manage to lift the Danish Cup for only the second time in their history having missed out on the Europa League knockout stage by a point.

The Wolves have only once made it to the Champions League group stage, when they finished bottom with only two points in the 2020-21 season, and that tally looks unlikely to be added to this campaign unless they can pull off a remarkable result against Benfica on Tuesday.

Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring for Benfica on August 5, 2022© Reuters

Benfica, of course, 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.

Domestically, though, there was major disappointment, with a third-placed finish in the Portuguese Primeira Liga coming alongside a runners-up medal in the League Cup and a fifth-round exit in the Taca de Portugal.

With top goalscorer Darwin Nunez departing for Liverpool in a move which could rise to £85m, it remains to be seen whether Roger Schmidt's side can push champions Porto closer in the German boss's first season in charge of the club.

On the evidence of last week's first leg, Ramos looks set to fill the goalscoring void of the Uruguayan, with Schmidt likely to be keen for his side to avoid any complacency in Denmark given their heavy lead.

FC Midtjylland Champions League form:
  • D
  • D
  • L

FC Midtjylland form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D

Benfica Champions League form:
  • W

Benfica form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W


Team News

Benfica boss Roger Schmidt on August 5, 2022© Reuters

Midtjylland will be 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 weekend's 3-3 draw at Lyngby, with the 21-year-old likely to start again in order to provide more midfield steel.

Benfica, meanwhile, will travel without Lucas Verissimo as the defender continues his rehabilitation from a ruptured cruciate ligament.

Schmidt named an unchanged side at the weekend, with his side repaying their manager's faith in them by thrashing Arouca 4-0.

It seems unlikely the 55-year-old would feel the need to freshen things up, then, but he may look towards the bench in the second half providing the tie looks to be wrapped up.

FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Olafsson; Dalsgaard, Sviatchenko, Juninho; Andersson, Onyedika, Sorensen, Dyhr; Dreyer, Kaba, Sisto

Benfica possible starting lineup:
Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Morato, Grimaldo; Luis, Fernandez; Neres, Silva, Mario; Ramos


SM words green background

We say: FC Midtjylland 1-3 Benfica

We can envisage another comfortable victory for Benfica to move themselves within one tie of the Champions League group stage.

They outclassed Midtjylland in the first leg and while it would be no surprise to see the Danish side score again, the visitors surely have too much firepower for them to handle.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:curl

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How you voted: Midtjyllvs vs Benfica

FC Midtjylland
11.6%
Draw
11.0%
Benfica
77.4%
146
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Goncalo Ramos celebrates scoring for Benfica against Liverpool in the Champions League on April 13, 2022
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Nordsjaelland33007259
2SilkeborgSilkeborg32107347
3AC HorsensHorsens32102027
4Viborg FFViborg32017616
5FC MidtjyllandMidtjylland31117524
6AarhusAarhus31113214
7RandersRanders30303303
8Copenhagen310256-13
9Brondby310225-33
10Lyngby BoldklubLyngby Boldklub301235-21
11Aalborg BKAaB301225-31
12OdenseOdense301239-61

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