Preview: Odense vs Viborg FF - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking for their first win since being promoted to the Danish Superliga, Odense are set to face Viborg FF at Nature Energy Park on Sunday.

De Stribede will be hoping to start quickly once again this weekend, while the Greens will be aiming to avoid a second straight defeat.

Match preview

Odense reached the top flight by winning the Danish 1st Division under Jakob Poulsen in 2024-25, and after the head-coach departed for fellow Superliga club AGF, many suspected that they would struggle to make the step-up.

However, De Stribede performed strongly in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Midtjylland during Nickolai Lund's first league game in charge, and while they did surrender a two-goal lead, the manager will be pleased that his team were able to pose a significant threat to a title-chasing club.

That draw has Lund's side fifth in the table, and they will have their work cut out for them if they are to stay in the top half going forward.

Trying to continue their commendable start to life in the Superliga, the hosts will take confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten in competitive matches on their own turf since October 2024, even if those games were in a lower division.

Sealing a first victory since their promotion would give Odense a major psychological boost and could even lift them above Nordsjaelland, Copenhagen, Brondby and Randers in a best-case scenario.

Meanwhile, Alexander Zorniger's Viborg will be aiming to better their eighth-placed finish from last season, but having lost their opening day clash, they are off to a poor start.

Last week, the Greens were beaten 3-2 by European regulars Copenhagen, and while the result was not unexpected, the boss will be disappointed that his side were unable to see out the game after Jeppe Gronning scored the first goal of the match.

That defeat left Zorniger's men 11th with zero points, only spared from the bottom spot thanks to Silkeborg's minus three goal-difference.

As the visitors look to recover from their false start this weekend, they could take heart from their travelling record that features just one defeat from their last seven competitive matches, though it is notable that they won only twice in that stretch, drawing the other four games.

Three points on Sunday would be enough to see Viborg reach fourth should they manage a four goal-difference swing over Nordsjaelland, but another loss could put them firmly at the foot of the table.

Odense Danish Superliga form:

Viborg FF Danish Superliga form:

Team News

Odense are likely to be without hardy centre-back Bjorn Paulsen this weekend after he was taken off with an injury against Midtjylland, and Julius Berthel Askou may start in his place.

Likewise, right wing-back Leeroy Owusu was forced off late on in the same game, and if he is unavailable, then Gustav Madsen could line up out wide.

As for Viborg, both of their goals on matchday one were scored by midfielders, so expect to see the central trio of Mads Sondergaard, Jeppe Gronning and Asker Beck make the XI on Sunday.

Further forward, Thomas Jorgensen and Yonis Njoh should start in versatile wide positions just behind striker Anosike Ementa, and they will be looking to supply the centre-forward with enough chances to put the Copenhagen defeat behind them.

Odense possible starting lineup:

Hansen; Burgy, Berthel Askou, Gomez; Madsen, Ejdum, Jensen, Sorensen; Ganaus, Arp; Grot

Viborg FF possible starting lineup:

Lund; Mbom, Radic, Nasberg, Anyembe; Sondergaard, Gronning, Beck; Jorgensen, Njoh; Ementa