Wolves await in Herning

On Sunday FC Copenhagen return to domestic Superliga duties, with the spring season kicking off with a trip to FC Midtjylland at the MCH Arena.
 
by Joe Short
Midtjylland began springtime training on 31 January with a friendly game against Randers FC. The showdown ended 3-3, and since then they have played six friendly matches. The day after the inconclusive battle against Randers, they beat FC Fredericia, and just over a week later beat AC Horsens 2-1.
 
Then followed a few not so good results as they lost to Viking Stavanger – but only after a penalty shootout – and three days later lost to yet another Norwegian team, IK Start, 0-1.
 
The Wolves’ final friendly was on Sunday afternoon against FC Zealand. Erik Sviatchenko gave Midtjylland a 1-0 lead, which was cancelled out by Rasmus Festersen; but FCM drew the longest straw when Ken Fagerberg with a cool head ensured a 2-1 win.
 
No new faces at FC Midtjylland, but goodbye to familiar ones
If you look out for Frank Kristensen among the squad on Sunday, you’ll do so in vain. For Kristensen is now at rival Superliga club Randers FC, and the Midtjylland faithful have had to say goodbye to a player who – in his 266 Superliga matches – has scored no fewer than 106 goals.
 
Besides Frank Kristensen, Midtjylland also waived goodbye to Brian Prisk, Baba Collins and Ken Ilsø. So, there are many players who have left the club, but Midtjylland has estimated that the current squad is strong enough to hold its own; and so have decided not to bring any new players to the club.
 
FC Copenhagen v FC Midtjylland
It will be Copenhagen’s 19th away game against Midtjylland. This has resulted in eight wins, five draws and five defeats: while the Lions have in their 18 matches scored 35 goals, conceding 21. Looking at all games between Copenhagen and Midtjylland, the two clubs have met 34 times, 18 of which FCK won. Nine points have been shared while FCM have claimed victory on seven occasions. Regarding the total number of goals, the Lions have scored 65 times and let in just 34.
 
A look at the past seven games between FCK and Midtjylland shows that the Danish champions hold a pretty good grip on the Wolves. In seven games Copenhagen have won six, while Allan Kuhn's troops once claimed three points.
 
 
FCM suspensions and injuries
FCM have no suspended players for Sunday's game, but four men – Izunna Uzochukwu, Rilwan Hassan, Sylvester Igboun and Kristian Ipsa – are one yellow card away from a one-game suspension.

Did you know…
The club FC Midtjylland was a conjoined product of two Danish football teams, who merged in 1999. Ikast FS and Herning Fremad were bitter local rivals whose histories had gone back decades. After years of negotiations, the two clubs came together to create a team to challenge for domestic trophies. FCM have finished second in the league on two occasions, and have also reached the Cup final.