Preview: Fredericia vs Nordsjaelland - prediction, team news, lineups

Fredericia will make history on Sunday, as the team prepare to play in the top flight of Danish football for the first time in their 34-year existence.

Michael Hansen's side, who finished second in the second tier last season to earn promotion, will welcome Nordsjaelland to Monjasa Park in gameweek one of the 2025-26 Danish Superliga campaign.

Match preview

Fredericia ended a 24-year spell in the first division courtesy of their second-placed finish in Denmark's second tier last season, and the team are now preparing to play in the Danish Superliga for the first time in their history.

Hansen's team will be up against it this season, being viewed as relegation candidates, but there is enough quality in their squad to make it back-to-back campaigns at this level of football.

Fredericia have managed to make four signings this summer, with Adam Nygaard, Malthe Ladefoged, Andreas Pyndt and Ovie Ejeheri arriving to boost the squad for life in the top flight.

Jesper Juelsgard has left on a free transfer, while three players who were on loan last season have returned to their parent clubs, but there will still be a familiar look to the team during the new campaign.

Nordsjaelland, meanwhile, won the Danish Superliga in 2012, while they were runners-up in 2023, but an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign saw them finish down in fifth spot.

Jens Olsen's side have sold some key players during this summer's transfer window, with Mario Dorgeles, Daniel Svensson and Benjamin Nygren leaving the club.

However, there have been incomings, with the most notable of those being central midfielder Nicklas Rojkjaer, and the 26-year-old is expected to be an important player for the club in the coming season.

Nordsjaelland will be the big favourites to start their 2025-26 campaign with a victory on Sunday, and it would be a huge setback, even at this early stage, if they were unable to claim all three points.

The Tigers played three friendlies in preparation for the new campaign, posting one win, one draw and one loss, while Fredericia had the same record from their pre-season programme.

Fredericia friendly form:

WDL

Nordsjaelland friendly form:

WLD

Team News

Fredericia could hand debuts to all four of their new signings in this match, with Ejeheri in line to feature between the sticks, while Nygaard and Ladefoged may operate in the middle of the defence.

Patrick Egelund scored eight times for the club last season, and he is set to feature in the final third of the field, while there should also be a spot for Gustav Marcussen, who netted 16 times in all competitions last term.

As for Nordsjaelland, there could be three debutants on display, although the only one expected to start is Rojkjaer, with the 26-year-old in line for a spot in the middle of midfield.

Sindre Walle Egeli scored nine times for the club during the 2024-25 campaign, and he will feature in the final third of the field for the away side this weekend.

Levy Nene is also likely to feature in the attack, with the 18-year-old having an encouraging 2024-25 season, finding the back of the net on four occasions in 20 appearances.

Fredericia possible starting lineup:

Ejeheri; Dahl, Nygaard, Ladefoged, Thogersen; Madsen, Jessen, Winther; Simonsen, Egelund, Marcussen

Nordsjaelland possible starting lineup:

Hansen; Ankersen, Acquah, Marxen, Seidu; Rojkjaer, Janssen, Ascone; Egeli, Nene, Junior

We say: Fredericia 1-2 Nordsjaelland

Fredericia will have home advantage on Sunday, and they will be desperate to pick up a positive result in their first match at this level, but we are expecting Nordsjaelland to navigate their way to all three points.

Written by
Matt Law

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