Midtjylland vs. Besiktas – News and Probable Lineups

With the need to overcome a one-goal disadvantage to keep their Europa League aspirations alive, FC Midtjylland will host Besiktas at MCH Arena on Thursday in the second leg of their qualifying round encounter.

The Danish side faced a 1-0 loss in the first leg last week in Istanbul, marking their first competitive clash with the Turkish side.

Match overview

Midtjylland’s challenge intensified during the first leg after Friday Etim received a red card in the 15th minute, putting the Wolves under considerable strain throughout the match, with goalkeeper Elias Olafsson making several crucial saves to limit the scoreline.

Olafsson confronted six shots during the clash, but could not stop Orkun Kokcu’s curling effort in the 26th minute, as the narrow loss brought Mike Tullberg’s team back to reality after a nearly seamless pre-season campaign.

Prior to that defeat, Midtjylland had gone unbeaten in five pre-season friendlies, winning four, including a commanding 6-0 victory against Cardiff City and a 4-1 win over Odense, which showcased their attacking prowess as they approached the new season.

Fortunately for the Jutland outfit, the setback did not carry over into their domestic opener, as they bounced back with a 3-2 triumph over Sonderjyske, starting the Superliga season on a high note following their runner-up finish last term.

Tullberg’s side also benefits from their experiences in last year’s Europa League, where they progressed automatically to the knockout phase before being heartbreakingly eliminated by Nottingham Forest in the round of 16 after a 2-1 defeat in the second leg.

On the other hand, Besiktas’ last European adventure concluded in the league phase of the 2024-25 Europa League, and their win in the first leg has placed the Turkish giants in a strong position, needing only to avoid defeat on Thursday to advance further.

This win provided Vincenzo Italiano with a flawless beginning to his competitive tenure after taking over in June, alleviating worries that arose from a lackluster pre-season for the Black Eagles.

During that phase, Besiktas managed only two victories out of six friendly matches, suffering defeats to Widzew Lodz (2-0) and Spartak Trnava (3-2), and those two games were the only instances they conceded more than once, indicating that solid defensive performance will be essential on Thursday.

Nevertheless, the visitors must remember they lost two of their last four competitive matches played away from home in the 2025-26 season, yet a draw in Jutland would secure them a place in the third qualifying round against either Tromso or Hradec Kralove.

Team News

Midtjylland is anxious about the condition of defender Victor Bak, who had to leave the field at halftime against Sonderjyske last weekend and is uncertain for Thursday’s match.

Should Bak be unavailable, he will join Ousmane Diao, Mikel Gogorza, and Junior Brumado on the sidelines, while Etim will complete his suspension from the red card received in the first leg.

Even though Mads Bech Sorensen, Valdemar Byskov, and substitute Julius Emefile scored during the weekend match, much of Midtjylland’s attacking threat is expected to be generated by Franculino Dju and Gue-sung Cho, who will likely lead the line once more.

Meanwhile, Besiktas has received a boost as Tiago Djalo has been declared fit following an injury scare in last week’s first leg, although Wilfred Ndidi (ankle) will remain unavailable.

Felix Uduokhai continues to serve his continental suspension, and summer acquisition Leandro Trossard is also out, having been granted extra leave following Belgium’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

FC Midtjylland probable starting XI:

Olafsson; Kristensen, Erlic, Sorensen; Osorio, Billing, Bravo, Byskov, B Junior; Come on, Cho

Besiktas probable starting XI:

Nobel; Yilmaz, Djalo, Topcu, Murillo; Ozcan; Cerny, Olaitan, Cock, Fakill; Oh

While the score and statistics from the first leg may not be encouraging for Midtjylland, the early dismissal of Etim certainly influenced the flow of the match, making it challenging to derive too many insights from the performance.

What is probable is that the hosts will need to take charge right from the beginning, but pushing too many players forward could create vulnerabilities at the back, and a solitary goal from Besiktas may be sufficient to clinch a draw and secure their progression to the next round.