Preview: Brondby vs Strasbourg - prediction, team news, lineups

One step away from making the Conference League's league phase, Danish club Brondby will host French side Strasbourg for the second leg of their playoff at Brondby Stadion.

Drengene Fra Vestegnen will be hoping to bounce back from defeat at the weekend, while Le Racing are looking for a third win in four games.

Match preview

Frederik Birk Christensen's Brondby have not reached the group stage or league phase of any UEFA competition since an appearance in the 2021-22 edition of the Europa League.

Drengene Fra Vestegnen have performed well in the Conference League so far, fighting through both the second and third qualifying rounds to make the playoff, beating Havnar Boltfelag and Vikingur Reykjavik in the process.

However, Birk Christensen's side are facing their toughest test yet, and considering that they failed to produce a single shot on target in the first leg, the manager will be keen to express the importance of remaining solid and making the most of their few chances.

On Sunday, Brondby lost 2-0 on the road to Sonderjyske in the Danish Superliga, though they may consider themselves unlucky considering that they dominated the match and the SJF goalkeeper was forced into making three times as many saves as their own.

Playing on their own turf on Thursday, the hosts will draw confidence from their home record that features four wins and one defeat this term, including two victories from their last two games at Brondby Stadion.

Meanwhile, Liam Rosenior's Strasbourg are competing in Europe for the first time since 2019-20, qualifying for the playoff after finishing seventh in Ligue 1.

Le Racing last reached the group stage of a continental competition 20 years ago, when they managed to go as far as the round of 16 in the 2005-06 UEFA Cup.

Rosenior's men may have drawn 0-0 in the first leg of this tie, but they generated 20 shots - eight of which were on target - and the boss will be hoping his team can be less wasteful this week.

At the weekend, Strasbourg earned all three points in a 1-0 league victory over Nantes, courtesy of a late strike from captain Emanuel Emegha.

That triumph continued the visitors' unbeaten season so far, and they will take heart from that record, as well as the fact that they have lost just one of their last five games on the road.

Brondby Conference League form:

Brondby form (all competitions):

Strasbourg Conference League form:

Strasbourg form (all competitions):

Team News

Brondby will be without right-sided centre-back Sean Klaiber due to an injury he picked up in the first leg, and Jordi Vanlerberghe could take his place on Thursday.

Rasmus Lauritsen and Luis Binks should join him in the backline, with the trio flanked by wing-backs Marko Divkovic and Mats Kohlert.

As for Strasbourg, they are also missing players in defence, with centre-halves Andrew Omobamidele and Saidou Sow out due to calf and cruciate ligament injuries respectively.

In their absence, Stefan Bajic and Mamadou Sarr could start at the heart of Rosenior's backline, with Ismael Doukoure and Valentin Barco at full-back.

Elsewhere, goalkeeper Mike Penders was substituted off with an injury in the first leg, and Karl-Johan Johnsson could line up between the sticks this week.

Brondby possible starting lineup:

Pentz; Vanleberghe, Lauritsen, Binks; Divkovic, Wass, Tahirovic, Kohlert; Nartey, Bundgaard, Vallys

Strasbourg possible starting lineup:

Johnsson; Doukoure, Bajic, Sarr, Barco; Amo-Ameyaw, Mwanga, Nanasi; Lemrechal; Panichelli, Emegha