With the fight for the Danish Superliga title having gone down to the final day of the season, FC Midtjylland will set out to regain top spot on Sunday when they welcome Silkeborg to the MCH Arena.
The hosts dropped behind Brondby in the title race following a draw with Nordsjaelland last time out but only trail the leaders on goal difference, while their visitors are unable to improve on their current standing in sixth spot.
Match preview
FC Midtjylland head into the final day of the Danish Superliga season aiming to win top-flight title for the fourth time in their history, having surrendered pole position last time out after moving top with a fine run.
The Ulvene finished the regular season in top spot with 48 points from 22 games, but they would go on to sit four points behind leaders Brondby with five fixtures remaining following back-to-back defeats in the middle of the playoff stage, with the latter being a 3-0 beating at the hands of Sunday's visitors.
Thomas Thomasberg's side were able quickly able to bounce back, though, and retook top spot in the run-in with three straight victories in early May, firstly picking up a crucial 3-2 triumph at home to title-rivals Brondby before seeing off AGF and prevailing away at third-placed FC Copenhagen with Franculino and Charles firing them to a 2-1 win in the capital.
That saw the Ulvene head into the final two outings with a two-point lead over Brondby to defend, but they would surrender that in a trip to Nordsjaelland on Tuesday, coming from behind in an eventful contest to share the spoils having initially trailed 3-0 before Franculino, Mads Bech Sorensen and Sverrir Ingi Ingason levelled the scores with crucial goals.
Now trailing the new leaders on goal difference in their bid to regain the title they last won in 2020, FC Midtjylland head into the final day knowing they can only focus on picking up a victory on home turf while hoping Brondby drop points to bring the trophy back to the MCH Arena.
In their way stand a visiting side who will also bid to get back to winning ways to round off the season, albeit with less to compete for in the top six.
Despite a dismal end to the Danish Superliga regular season, in which they finished with five straight defeats, Silkeborg were able to maintain sixth spot and move into the Championship group as a result, and they have failed to keep pace with the top four since, now confined to a sixth-placed finish with 35 points on the board from their 31 outings with one left to play.
It has certainly not been a season without success for Kent Nielsen's side, though, as they prevailed over AGF in early May to lift the Danish Cup title for the second time in their history, securing major domestic silverware for the first time since 2001 and booking a place in Europa League qualifying for next season as a result.
Following that triumph and a heavy beating at the hands of Nordsjaelland, SIF did record another 1-0 win over AGF to move within three points of the fifth-placed side in the Championship group with two games remaining, but they would fall out of reach in the following meeting with leaders Brondby on Monday, as Nicolai Vallys and Filip Bundgaard fired the visitors to a 2-0 triumph with first-half goals.
Now unable to improve on their current standing but with plenty of positives to take having returned to the top six this year, Silkeborg will now bid to end a memorable season on a high with an impressive scalp away at FC Midtjylland.
Team News
FC Midtjylland will remain without Alhaji Kamara and Marrony on Sunday, with the pair continuing spells in the treatment room, and Thomas Thomasberg may opt to deploy an unchanged starting XI from Monday's trip to Nordsjaelland.
There will be competition in attack, though, with Gue-sung Cho, who has netted 13 goals so far this term, returning to contention and fighting to start, while Franculino is bound to again lead the line having moved onto 16 for the season at the age of 19 years old with goals in each of their last two outings.
Mads Bech Sorensen and Sverrir Ingi Ingason will continue their centre-back partnership, having both got on the scoresheet in the recent draw with Nordsjaelland, while Oliver Sorensen is a mainstay in the midfield having made a team-high tally of 37 appearances so far this term.
Silkeborg have a pair of enforced absentees of their own heading into the final game of the campaign, with defender Alexander Busch and midfielder Fredrik Carlsen both remaining sidelined.
They should again line up in a 4-3-3 shape, with Alexander Lind fighting to displace Tonni Adamsen and come in and lead the line from the outset after a pair of substitute appearances, while Stefan Thordarson has been their key man going forward this term with 11 goals and two assists to his name across all competitions.
The Iceland international and Callum McCowatt will support whichever lone striker is preferred, while mainstay Mark Brink may again be joined by Pelle Mattsson and Mads Larsen in the midfield.
FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup:
Fraisl; Gabriel, M Sorensen, Ingason, Paulinho; Osorio, O Sorensen, Martinez, Charles; Franculino, Cho
Silkeborg possible starting lineup:
N Larsen; Sonne, Rodin, Felix, Poulsen; Mattsson, Brink, M Larsen; McCowatt, Lind, Thordarson
We say: FC Midtjylland 2-0 Silkeborg
Knowing only a victory may suffice if they are to stand a chance of clinching the Superliga title while hoping Silkeborg drop points, and with more quality in their ranks, we back FC Midtjylland to do the job and take all three points on home turf on the final day.
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Sam Varley
