The stakes are high for both FC Midtjylland and Randers when the two sides go head to head at MCH Arena in the 2024-25 Danish Superliga season finale on Sunday.
While the Hedens Drenge find themselves one point behind league leaders Copenhagen in a heated two-way battle for the title, the visitors will be looking to leapfrog Brondby and secure the Conference League playoffs ticket.
Match preview
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Midtjylland kept their hopes of defending the Superliga crown alive on Monday as they held their own to see out a 2-1 victory over Brondby when the two sides squared off at the Brondby Stadion.
Following a goalless first half, Daniel Wass netted an own goal two minutes after the interval to break the deadlock and put the visitors in front, and after Mathias Kvistgaarden restored parity in the 63rd minute, Adam Buksa struck in the 70th minute to hand Midtjylland all three points.
With that result, Thomas Thomasberg's men have won three of their most recent four games in the season's run-in — scoring 11 goals and conceding three — with a 1-1 draw against Copenhagen in their crunch top-of-the-table clash on May 11 being the exception.
Having kicked off the championship round with one point from the first nine available and just one win from their opening five matches, this upturn in form has put Midtjylland in contention for a second straight league title heading into the final weekend.
A 3-0 victory over Velje in last season's final weekend helped the Hedens Drenge beat runners-up Brondby — who lost 3-2 against AGF — by just one point to clinch their fourth Superliga crown and they will be hoping to repeat that same story this weekend.
Midtjylland have picked up 59 points from their 31 Superliga games so far to sit second in the championship round standings, one point behind first-placed Copenhagen, who are at home against Nordsjaelland on Sunday.
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On the other hand, Rangers dropped three huge points in their push for European football last weekend when they fell to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of title-chasing Copenhagen on home turf.
In a one-sided affair at the Cepheus Park Randers, goals from Rodrigo Huescas, Andreas Cornelius and a first-half brace from Swedish striker Jordan Larsson fired the visitors to their 17th league win of the season.
Before that, Randers were on a three-game unbeaten streak — their longest run of games without defeat in the championship phase — playing out a goalless draw with Brondby on April 25 before claiming successive victories over Nordsjaelland and AGF to start May.
Rasmus Bertelsen's men have won 13 of their 31 league games so far while losing nine and claiming nine draws to collect 48 points and sit fourth in the championship standings, only below third-placed Brondby in the Conference League playoff spot on goal difference.
While Randers need victory and favourable results elsewhere to sneak into third place on the final day, they must show their mettle at MCH Arena, where they have failed to win any of their last 22 visits in the league, losing 15 and claiming seven draws since a 2-0 victory in April 2009.
Team News
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Midtjylland remain without the services of 27-year-old forward Gue-sung Cho, who continues his long road to full fitness after sustaining a severe knee injury back in May 2024.
Other than that, the Hedens Drenge head into the season finale with a clean bill of health and no suspension concerns, giving Thomasberg the luxury of a relatively full strength squad to select from.
With his winner against Brondby, Buksa now has six goal involvements in his last six games and we expect the Polish international to lead the hosts' attack once again, alongside Mikel Gogorza and 20-year-old Dju Franculino.
Having recently recovered from a leg injury, French forward Florian Danho has been an unused substitute in Randers' last two games and could be handed his first appearance since April 17 this weekend.
Simen Bolkan Nordli has been a standout performer for the visitors this season and the Norwegian midfielder, who boasts 25 goal involvements in the league, will be looking to deliver the goods once again.
FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Lossl; Mbabu, Lee, B Sorensen, Jensen; Castillo, Bravo, O Sorensen; Gogorza, Franculino, Buksa
Randers possible starting lineup:
Izzo; Olsen, Hoegh, Dammers, Dyhr; Greve, Romer, Bjorkengren; Nordli, Campbell, Odey
We say: FC Midtjylland 3-1 Randers
While Randers will be looking to edge out Brondby in the race for third-place, results at MCH Arena offer little optimism as they have failed to win their last 22 league visits to Midtjylland. With their sights set firmly on the league crown, we predict the Hedens Drenge will do their part this weekend and secure maximum points in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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Joshua Ojele
