Preview: SonderjyskE vs. Aarhus - prediction, team news, lineups

SonderjyskE will be looking to use home advantage to make the perfect start to their 2025-26 Danish Superliga campaign on Sunday, with Aarhus their opponents at Haderslev Football Stadium.

The home side finished ninth in Denmark's top flight last term, while Aarhus ended the season in sixth, and both teams will be looking for improvement in the coming campaign.

Match preview

SonderjyskE have never won the Danish Superliga, but they did finish second in 2015-16, which represents their highest-ever spot at this level of football.

SE won the Danish first division in 2023-24 to secure a return to the top flight and then finished ninth last term, making it successive campaigns at this level, but the team will be looking to improve in 2025-26.

Thomas Norgaard's side have been busy during this summer's transfer window, with their most notable arrival proving to be Magnus Jensen, with the centre-back arriving from Lyngby.

Alexander Lyng has also made the move from Swiss outfit Servette on a permanent basis following a loan spell, and the 20-year-old is a player capable of making a difference for the team this season.

There have also been three departures for SE this summer, including goalkeeper Jakob Busk, with the 31-year-old making the move to fellow Danish top-flight team Nordsjaelland.

As for Aarhus, it has been a case of quality not quantity in the transfer market, with Sebastian Jorgensen and Rasmus Carstensen arriving on loan from Malmo and Koln respectively.

Jakob Poulsen's side finished sixth in Denmark's top flight last season, which was disappointing considering that they had been third in 2022-23 and fifth in 2023-24.

The Whites are five-time Danish champions, with their last success in the competition coming in 1986, while they have been the runners-up eight times, last finishing second in 1996.

AGF have actually dominated the recent meetings between these two sides, triumphing in their last five matches at this level of football, while SonderjyskE have not posted a Danish Superliga success over Sunday's opponents since 2017, demonstrating the size of their task in this match.

SonderjyskE friendly form:

WL

Aarhus friendly form:

WWDD

Team News

SonderjyskE are expected to have a debutant in their starting side on Sunday, with Jensen in line to feature in the middle of the defence, with Lyng likely to be used off the bench.

Lirim Qamili scored 12 times during an impressive 2024-25 campaign, and he is set to be a notable starter for the home side in this match.

Meanwhile, there should also be a spot through the middle for Ivan Djantou, who scored five times last term.

As for Aarhus, Jorgensen and Cartensen are both in line to make their debuts for the club.

Patrick Mortensen enjoyed an excellent 2024-25 campaign, finding the back of the net on 21 occasions in 35 appearances, and the experienced striker will lead the away side's line this weekend.

SonderjyskE possible starting lineup:

Bundgaard; Klysner, Soulas, Jensen, Duru; Vinderslev, Sommer, Emini; Qamili, Djantou, Hyseni

Aarhus possible starting lineup:

Hansen; Cartensen, Kahl, Molgaard, Carstensen; Poulsen, Madsen, Arnstad; Jorgensen, Mortensen, Links

We say: SonderjyskE 1-1 Aarhus

Aarhus have been utterly dominant in the recent meetings between the two sides, with their last draw occurring in November 2020, but we are backing the points to be shared in this gameweek one fixture.

Written by
Matt Law

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