Midtjylland vs Sporting Lisbon Predictions

• At least three goals were scored in four of Midtjylland’s six Europa League group games this term.
• At least three goals have been scored in three of Sporting’s last four away games in all competitions
• Gustav Isaksen has scored five goals in his last seven games for Midtjylland and in three of his last six Europa League outings.

Wolves could take Lions by surprise

Midtyjlland could take Sporting by surprise when two sides that played out an uneven 1-1 draw in Lisbon a week ago reconvene in Herning for Thursday’s Europa League playoff round, second leg.

The Danish club have been inconsistent this season – perhaps understandably after high player turnover – but have tended to reserve their best displays for European competition. They were unlucky to meet a red-hot Benfica in the Champions League qualifiers back in August, but were not disgraced in either game after exiting 7-2 on aggregate.

The high-scoring nature of both of those clashes with Sporting’s city rivals could be repeated this week as Midtjylland could set up in a more positive fashion than they did in Lisbon. That said, they are a good counter-attacking unit and may try to draw Sporting onto them to exploit space in transitions.

In-form Isaksen is the man to watch

The hosts’ in-form forward Gustav Isaksen could have a major say in any upset as the Danish Under-21 international arrives fresh from arguably the best performance of his career. He scored three fine goals and had a hand in FCM’s other in a 4-0 win at second-placed Viborg on Monday.

While the Wolves were cruising to that victory, Sporting were made to struggle for their 3-2 success at Chaves, after which coach Ruben Amorim bemoaned lapses in concentration. the big lapse in the first-leg came from goalkeeper Adan, whose scuffed clearance fell invitingly for Emam Ashour to slam home from outside the box

Midtjylland have enough goal power to trouble a Sporting defence that has conceded five goals in their last three and nine times in the last four group games of a Champions League campaign that tailed off badly. A 2-1 home success is taken for correct score purposes as the Wolves have gone two-to-toe with better sides than Sporting already this season, such as Lazio and Feyenoord, and scored multiple goals on each occasion.