Scoutmania

The Danish giants outplayed and outpaced the Finnish team and won by a 4-goal margin at the MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark.

The Midtjylland team saw many familiar faces from last season, with the addition of Martin Erlić from Bologna, bringing plenty of Serie A experience. Midtjylland played at a much higher pace than KuPS, who are more accustomed to a smaller pitch. Playing with a 4-4-2, the Danish champions saw Franculino interchanging positions with wingers Aral Şimşir and Dario Osario, while in midfield number 21 Denil Castillo was ahead of his midfield partner Pedro Bravo.

Midtjylland went 2-0 up within 20 minutes. Winning the ball in midfield, they transitioned quickly and attacked the spaces behind KuPS centre-back Ibrahim Cisse on multiple occasions before scoring the first goal (see image below), while for the 2nd goal, they made use of the width of the pitch and switched the play to Dario Osario in a 1v1, where he brought the ball down neatly and cut in to score with his left foot. The first half saw Midtjylland dominating with their speed and KuPS players unable to lay tackles on their direct opponents, an example being Midtjylland’s right back Kevin Mbabu speeding past KuPS’ midfielders Samuel Pasanen and Doni Arifi to put a cross into the box.

KuPS, playing with a 4-3-3, attempted to fight back in the first half. With Midtjylland’s attackers being in relatively close proximity in the middle third, and a lack of width in that line allowing KuPS’ backline to narrow up, the centre-backs were brave enough to step up to win the ball and set up counterattacks. KuPS tested the home team with balls to the flank, with right-back Saku Savolainen getting forward to cross and shoot, making a good inside run where his shot was saved by Midtjylland keeper Elías Ólafsson in a 1v1. The full-backs from the Danish team also looked a little troubled dealing with crosses and numbers to the back post. The use of centre forward Mohamed Toure had pros and cons – while he drifted out wide to create overloads and periods of possession for the Finnish team, the team lacked targets in the box, hence they were targeting Midtjylland’s full-backs.

KuPS continued to improve in the 2nd half, overloading wide areas while defending and attempted to use the width of the pitch with left-back Bob Nii Armah, however his right-footedness meant he was drifting in field and was not putting in crosses like a left-footed full-back would do more naturally.

Throw-ins were always a distinctive feature with this moneyball-associated Midtjylland team. Here, right back Mbabu threw a low ball into CB Erlić, displaying yet another dangerous variation of attacking throws into the box – a layoff to a player, and if the ball was thrown higher and he won the first header, it was a 3v2 at the back (see image below).

Substitute Júnior Brumado finished the game off with 2 goals – a powerful strike past the helpless Johannes Kreidl, and through the throw-in routine as shown above, this time all the players in the front pack missed the ball and he got in front of his defender from the 2v2 at the back to seal the first leg between the Scandinavian teams.

Can KuPS come back from the 4-0 deficit?

It will be difficult, however,

1. Targeting the Danish team at the back post with players making runs around the back and in the channels can earn them 1 or 2 goals back (see image below)
2. Whipping crosses in between the Danish backline and the goalkeeper can be dangerous, with players making runs in behind and for the cutback.
3. Securing possession with overloads in midfield and targeting left centre-back Mads Bech Sørensen slipping Mohamed Toure behind can also earn them a goal back.

That is, of course, if last year’s 2nd place in the Danish Superliga does not score again.

Here is the player who stood out in this match:

Martin Erlić (FCM), centre back born 1998

The centre back had a relatively quiet game – it meant that his positioning was sound and his defending was reliable. He was strong in the air, recovered the ball and played safe passes while Midtjylland had possession. It seemed, however, that he was still building his match fitness and could be tested with crosses between him and the goalkeeper.

A good pick up from Midtjylland – this player had played over 100 matches in Serie A.