With the scores level after a highly-competitive first leg last week, Slovan Bratislava and FC Midtjylland will battle it out for a spot in the League Phase of the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Sky Blues managed to secure a share of the honours in Denmark last time out, meaning that the Wolves arguably come into this clash as slight underdogs.
Match preview
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Claiming possession of the Slovakian Super Liga crown during the 2023-24 season, finishing a mammoth 15 points ahead of the chasing pack in the title race, Slovan Bratislava secured a spot in the first round of qualifying for this campaign's revamped Champions League.
Since then, the Sky Blues have enjoyed a productive summer schedule on the continental stage, getting the better of Struga, Celje and Cypriot outfit APOEL in succession to book a two-legged bout with Midtjylland for a place amongst Europe's elite club sides, including current holders Real Madrid.
Scoring only the fourth-ever goal of his Slovan Bratislava career, right-back Cesar Blackman put the Slovakians ahead in Denmark during the first leg last week before a second-half strike from Zambian striker Edward Chilufya restored parity in the contest for the Wolves.
Following last Wednesday's respectable result in Scandinavia, the Sky Blues extended their 100% record at the beginning of the 2024-25 domestic campaign on Sunday afternoon, when efforts from Idjessi Metsoko and Tigran Barseghyan secured a two-goal victory over Banska Bystrica.
![Thomas Thomasberg of FC Midtjylland during a 3F Superliga match against Aarhus GF at Ceres Park Aarhus Ceres Park Denmark, July 19 [on July 21]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/29/thomas-thomasberg_1.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Thomas Thomasberg of FC Midtjylland during a 3F Superliga match against Aarhus GF at Ceres Park Aarhus Ceres Park Denmark, July 19 [on July 21]")
© Imago
Starting their competitive action for the 2024-25 campaign all the way back on July 19, FC Midtjylland have navigated the first month of football this season almost flawlessly and are now one positive result away from returning to the proper phase of UEFA's elite club competition.
Winning the Danish Superliga last term, the Wolves entered the Champions League at the second round of qualifying earlier in the summer, seeing off the attentions of UE Santa Coloma and Hungarian heavyweights Ferencvaros to set up a battle with Slovakian champions Bratislava.
As is the case with their hosts on Wednesday night, Midtjylland enjoyed domestic success over the weekend, with Thomas Thomasberg's troops coming out on top of a five-goal thriller against SonderjyskE courtesy of strikes from Poland international Adam Buksa, Chilufya and Adam Gabriel.
The Wolves are aiming to reach the proper chase of the Champions League for the first time since the 2020-21 term, when the Danish side finished bottom of a tricky-sounding section containing Liverpool, Atalanta BC and Dutch powerhouses Ajax.
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Team News
![Ousmane Diao of FC Midtjylland after a 3F Superliga match against Aarhus GF at Ceres Park Aarhus Ceres Park Denmark, July 19 [on July 21]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/29/ousmane-diao_1.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Ousmane Diao of FC Midtjylland after a 3F Superliga match against Aarhus GF at Ceres Park Aarhus Ceres Park Denmark, July 19 [on July 21]")
© Imago
Forced off after just 22 minutes during the first leg last weekend, 24-year-old Sharani Zuberu is a doubt for Slovan Bratislava this time around.
As a result, the Sky Blues are likely to require a new face and solution at left-back, with Matus Vojtko representing the most likely candidate for the role.
Despite his return to training in recent weeks, Marrony is not likely to be available for Midtjylland in their playoff decider in Slovakia.
The Wolves are also unable to call upon the talents of Victor Bak, who featured in two Superliga fixtures this summer before picking up an injury.
Providing four goal contributions in six Superliga matches so far, Oliver Sorensen will be desperate to translate his domestic form onto the continental stage.
Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:
Takac; Blackman, Kashia, Wimmer, Vojtko; Bajric, Kucka, Barseghyan, Tolic, Weiss; Strelec
FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Olafsson; Andersson, Diao, Bech, Juninho; Osorio, Sorensen, Martinez, Simsir; Franculino, Buska
We say: Slovan Bratislava 1-0 FC Midtjylland (Slovan Bratislava win 2-1 on aggregate)
With a place in the League Phase of the Champions League at stake, we are expecting a cagey affair between two sides who are unbeaten in competitive action so far this summer.
Given their home advantage, Slovan Bratislava should have enough to edge out a hard-fought contest, sending the Danish champions back to Scandinavia heartbroken.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
