Midtjylland welcome Scandinavian neighbours KuPS to the MCH Arena for the first leg of their Europa League playoff on Thursday night. The Finnish club are already guaranteed of European football in the autumn for the first time, while Midtjylland will be expecting to reach the league phase of this competition again.
Contents
Midtjylland vs KuPS prediction: Routine home win expected
Key stats
- Midtjylland are unbeaten in their last 14 games across all competitions.
- KuPS have lost their final qualifying tie in each of the last nine seasons they have played in Europe.
- Midtjylland have only failed to reach the group stage/league phase of either the Champions League or Europa League in one of the last five seasons.
Correct score prediction: Midtjylland 3-0 KuPS
Midtjylland are huge favourites to take a lead into the second leg, and they should deliver on that tag, having reached the knockouts in the Europa League last season, while this is as far as KuPS have got in a half-decade.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Midtjylland huge favourites for a first-leg lead
- HOME: 2/9 (1.22) – 81.8%
- DRAW: 11/2 (6.50) – 15.4%
- AWAY: 11/1 (12.00) – 8.3%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Out of the 12 Europa League ties on Thursday, only Braga are a shorter price to win in the first leg than Midtjylland, with the bookies giving the Danes an implied probability of 81.8%.
On the other hand, KuPS are barely given a chance, with their probability of taking a lead into the home leg sitting at a mere 8.3%.
Also, feel free to check out our dedicated Football Betting Tips Today page.
Most recent H2Hs: First meeting between the two
This is the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, and it will be the first occasion Midtjylland have faced a club from Finland since 2007, when they beat Haka 7-3 on aggregate in a UEFA Cup qualifier.
KuPS have faced Danish opposition before, knocking out Boldklubben before going out to Esbjerg both in the 1978-79 UEFA Cup, and more recently they were edged out of a Europa League qualifier by Copenhagen, losing 2-1 on aggregate.
Midtjylland preview: Almost at full strength
Martin Erlic could make his first European start for Midtjylland following his move from Bologna earlier this month, with fellow defender Ousmane Diao still sidelined due to injury.
Edward Chilufya has served a domestic suspension and is now available for selection again, but the Zambian attacker may have to settle for a place on the bench.
Predicted lineup: Olafsson (GK), Gabriel, Erlic, Bech Sorensen, Paulinho, Simsir, Bravo, Castillo, Osorio, Buksa & Franculino
Denmark Superligaen 11/05/25
D
FC Copenhagen
1
Midtjylland
1
Denmark Superligaen 04/05/25
W
AGF Aarhus
1
Midtjylland
3
Denmark Superligaen 27/04/25
W
FC Nordsjaelland
0
Midtjylland
5
Denmark Superligaen 22/04/25
L
FC Nordsjaelland
3
Midtjylland
2
Denmark Superligaen 17/04/25
W
FC Copenhagen
2
Midtjylland
4
KuPS preview: New boys hoping for European debuts
KuPS boss Jarkko Wiss handed out debuts to both Pa Konate and Taneli Hamalainen at the weekend, but both may only be on the bench here, as the Finns rotated heavily for their league win over Inter Turku.
Arttu Lotjonen and Ghanaian duo Clinton Antwi and Derrick Agyei are all set to miss out for the visitors, having missed a number of games through injury.
Predicted lineup: Kreidl (GK), Savolainen, Cisse, Miettinen, Armah, Oksanen, Arifi, Voutilainen, Ruoppi, Toure & Pennanen
Finland Veikkausliiga 10/05/25
W
KTP
0
KuPS Kuopio
3
Finland Veikkausliiga 02/05/25
W
SJK
0
KuPS Kuopio
1
Finland Veikkausliiga 27/04/25
W
IF Gnistan
1
KuPS Kuopio
2
Finland Veikkausliiga 23/04/25
W
IFK Mariehamn
1
KuPS Kuopio
4
Finland Veikkausliiga 19/04/25
W
FF Jaro
0
KuPS Kuopio
1
Player to watch: Aral Simsir
Being rested at the weekend, Simsir still came off the bench to set up the late clinching goal for Midtjylland against Vejle, meaning he is set to return to the starting XI.
Simsir already has a goal in Europe this season, at home to Hibernian, and across his last six starts, he has two goals and three assists, so will carry a creative threat.