FC Midtjylland welcomes Slovan Bratislava to MCH Arena for the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie on Wednesday night.
The winners of this two-legged tie will secure a spot in the newly-expanded 36-team Champions League, while the losers will drop down to the Europa League.
Match Preview
FC Midtjylland
Recent Form
Midtjylland have been in impressive form recently, extending their unbeaten run across all competitions to nine matches.
They secured a 4-0 aggregate win over UE Santa Coloma in the second qualifying round, followed by a 3-1 aggregate victory against Ferencvaros.
Domestically, they are third in the Danish Superliga, just one point behind the leaders.
Injury News
Midtjylland will be without Kristoffer Olsson, who is sidelined whilst suffering with blood clots, as well as Paulinho, Cho Gue-sung, and Marrony, who are all dealing with knee injuries.
Victor Bak and Christian Sorensen are doubtful for the match, with Bak missing the last six games and Sorensen forced off in the first half against Lyngby last weekend.
Slovan Bratislava
Recent Form
Slovan Bratislava have also started the season strongly, winning seven and drawing two of their opening nine matches in all competitions.
They advanced to the playoff round after defeating Struga, Celje, and APOEL. On the domestic front, they secured a 2-1 victory over FC Kosice to stay top of the Slovak First Football League.
Injury News
Lukas Pauschek and Adler are unavailable for Slovan Bratislava due to shoulder and shin injuries, respectively.
Coach Vladimir Weiss may recall his son, Vladimir Weiss, to join the attack alongside Robert Mak and David Strelec, who have been key contributors this season.
Players To Watch
FC Midtjylland Player To Watch
Adam Buksa - The new signing has made an immediate impact, contributing significantly to Midtjylland's recent success. After being rested last weekend, he is expected to start and will be a key player for the Danish side.
Slovan Bratislava Player To Watch
Robert Mak - With crucial goals in the previous rounds, Mak has been instrumental in Slovan Bratislava's European campaign. His form in front of goal will be vital in their quest to reach the group stage.
Prediction
Both teams have shown strong form in the early stages of the season, making this a closely contested match. A 2-2 draw seems a likely outcome, keeping the tie balanced ahead of the second leg in Slovakia.
Midtjylland 
Slovan 
