Home comeback against an away curse: Midtjylland vs Beşiktaş prediction
The second qualifying round match of the Europa League between Midtjylland and Beşiktaş will take place on July 30 at MCH Arena in Herning. The Turkish club won the first leg by the narrowest of margins, so the Danish side still have a genuine chance to turn the tie around on home soil.
Midtjylland: the Wolves can transform at home
Midtjylland looked unconvincing in Istanbul and allowed their opponents to create significantly more dangerous chances, but losing by just one goal left Mike Tullberg’s team with room to mount a comeback. The Danish side then played a difficult league match against Sønderjyske and won 3-2, although they once again failed to fully control the game.
The main problem for the hosts will be the absence of Friday Etim, who was sent off in the first leg. The form of Cho Gue-sung and Franculino Djú is also a concern, but their home record offers reasons for optimism: Midtjylland have scored in each of their last seven matches in Herning and found the net at least twice in six of them.
Beşiktaş: they have the advantage, but their finishing is letting them down
Beşiktaş were considerably stronger than their opponents in the first match, controlling possession and creating chance after chance. The Turkish side registered seven shots on target, completed more than 600 passes with an accuracy rate of 89%, but missed six clear-cut opportunities and had to settle for only a narrow victory.
The visitors approach the return leg in fresher condition because the Turkish league season has not yet started, although the issue at centre-forward remains unresolved. Oh Hyeon-gyu, Milot Rashica and Semih Kılıçsoy have yet to establish themselves as consistent attacking leaders, while Tiago Djaló remains doubtful after sustaining an injury in Istanbul.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Both teams scored in four of Midtjylland’s last six matches and in five of Beşiktaş’s last eight games.
- Midtjylland have won six of their last seven home matches in the Europa League.
- Beşiktaş have lost seven of their last nine away matches in the Europa League.
Herning could turn the tie around: Midtjylland vs Beşiktaş prediction
The narrow defeat in Istanbul leaves Midtjylland with a clear task: score one goal and restore parity in the tie. Home advantage should make the Danish side more aggressive, although their congested schedule and Etim’s absence significantly limit the team’s attacking options.
Beşiktaş look stronger in terms of overall quality and physical readiness, but poor finishing and an extremely disappointing away record in the Europa League make the return leg dangerous for the Turkish club. The hosts are capable of using the support of their fans to their advantage and edging past their opponents in a cautious match with few goals.
