Preview: FC Midtjylland vs Fredrikstad - prediction, team news, lineups

Leading by two goals from last week's first leg, FC Midtjylland will try to seal a Europa League playoff place when they meet Fredrikstad again on Thursday.

The Danish side are well-placed to progress from the third round of qualifying, after a 3-1 victory in Norway put them in control of the tie.

Match preview

From the moment Franculino struck first for Midtjylland in the 14th minute they never looked back, as the Wolves produced a valuable away win last week.

Mikel Kruger-Johnsen and Denil Castillo also were on the scoresheet, either side of a Fredrikstad strike by substitute Joannes Bjartalid, wrapping up an impressive performance.

Now on course to meet either RFS or KuPS in the playoffs, Midtjylland started their journey last month, with a tight second-round tie against Hibernian, only advancing 3-2 on aggregate after Junior Brumado's 119th-minute finish in Edinburgh.

Since 2020, they have managed to reach the group or league phase of European tournaments four times from five attempts - only exiting last season's Europa League campaign at the first knockout stage - so their fans will expect them to finish the job.

On the domestic front, Thomas Thomasberg's side have played four games in the Danish Superliga this season, winning only once but drawing three times - including Sunday's six-goal thriller against Fredericia.

While their hosts regularly appear in UEFA competition, Fredrikstad's last continental campaign came back in 2009, when they were knocked out of the Europa League qualifiers by Lech Poznan.

FFK were automatically entered into this stage of the 2025-26 prelims after winning the Norwegian Cup, but they now require an improbable turnaround to avoid going straight out.

Even in defeat, dropping down to the Conference League would prove a consolation for Andreas Hagen's side, who have struggled for consistency in recent weeks.

All told, Fredrikstadt have lost seven of their last 13 games, and they sit seventh in the Eliteserien after 18 matches.

With nothing to lose - and seven days to prepare, as their weekend game against Brann was postponed - at least the Rodbuksene can head to MCH Arena with a little hope, if not much expectation.

FC Midtjylland Europa League form: D W W

FC Midtjylland form (all competitions): D W W D W D

Fredrikstad Europa League form: L

Fredrikstad form (all competitions): W L D W D L

Team News

Midtjylland made seven changes to their lineup at the weekend, when they were held to a 3-3 home draw by Fredericia, but several men that started last week's first leg could now return.

Recently signed from Bologna, Croatia defender Martin Erlic made his first start on Sunday, so he will hope to keep his place in the hosts' back four.

Elsewhere, Edward Chilufya will be available after serving a domestic ban, but Ousmane Diao and Gue-Sung Cho are both ruled out by injury.

While Franculino and Junior Brumado are set to be paired up front for Midtjylland, the visitors' main threats tend to be Henrik Skogvold and Danish striker Emil Holten.

Sondre Sorlokk is another option for Fredrikstad boss Andreas Hagen, having started the first leg; Joannes Bjartalid scored as substitute and could also come into contention.

Holten's compatriot Valdemar Birkso is still sidelined by a thigh injury, so the goalkeeper will miss out on a return to his homeland.

FC Midtjylland possible starting lineup: Lossl; Mbabu, Lee, Erlic, Paulinho; Osorio, Bravo, O. Sorensen, Gogorza; Brumado, Dju

Fredrikstad possible starting lineup: Birkso; Rafn, Fredriksen, Woledzi; Eid, Shein, Owusu, Ohlenschlaeger, Molde; Skogvold, Holten

We say: FC Midtjylland 2-0 Fredrikstad (FC Midtjylland win 5-1 on aggregate)

In command after events last week, Midtjylland should ease through to the playoffs with another win on Thursday.

Boasting more individual quality across their squad, the hosts can get themselves further ahead against hit-and-miss Fredrikstad and then ease off during the second half.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.