
Preview: FC Midtjylland vs. Hvidovre
FC Midtjylland welcome newly-promoted Hvidovre to the MCH Arena on Friday as the 2023-24 Danish Superliga season gets underway.
The three-time champions endured a below-par 2022-23 campaign, while the Old Giants finally ended a lengthy spell outside the top flight.
FC Midtjylland dominated Danish football between 2014-15 and 2021-22, claiming three Superliga titles while also finishing as runners-up on three occasions, but the Jutland outfit failed to live up to expectations last term.
In fact, Midtjylland found themselves in eighth place at the end of the 2022-23 regular season, and they eventually finished seventh after a much-needed managerial change.
Former Midtjylland midfielder Thomas Thomasberg took the managerial job in March 2023, having made over 100 appearances for the club between 1999 and 2004, and the 48-year-old swiftly turned things around.
Having suffered a solitary defeat in 11 matches at the end of last season ā picking up eight wins and two draws in the process ā Thomasberg will be determined to pick up where he left off last term.
Earlier this month, however, the Wolves suffered a 2-1 friendly defeat to Aalborg BK, who were relegated from the Superliga last season after finishing rock bottom of the table, so Midtjylland will be eager to hit the ground running.
Preview: Midtjylland vs. Hvidovre – prediction, team news, lineups
Having languished in the second and third tiers of Danish football for many years, Hvidovre are back in the big time thanks to a successful promotion bid last term.
After finishing the 2022-23 regular season with a record of 13 wins, five draws and four losses, the Old Giants clinched the second and final automatic promotion spot, finishing two points inside the top two and nine points shy of Vejle.
On top of that, Per Frandsen’s men were the highest scorers in the second tier last season, netting 65 goals in 32 matches, and they also ended the campaign with the second-best defensive record.
Like Midtjylland, Hvidovre have won three top-flight titles over the years, although the Old Giants triumphed in 1966, 1973 and 1981, while the Wolves achieved their first success in 2015 and their most recent in 2020.
It is worth pointing out that Hvidovre’s only previous meetings with Midtjylland came during the 1999-00 second-tier campaign, with both sides claiming away victories that season.
FC Midtjylland Danish Superliga form:
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Hvidovre Danish Superliga form:
We say: FC Midtjylland 3-0 Hvidovre
A baptism of fire is on the cards for newly-promoted Hvidovre, who look set to suffer a heavy defeat on their return to top-flight action, with FC Midtjylland expected to secure a comfortable clean-sheet victory.