FC Midtjylland opens their Europa League qualifying campaign on Thursday with an away leg against Beşiktaş at Tüpraş Stadyumu, marking the first of two meetings with last season’s fourth-placed finishers in Turkey.
Midtjylland’s Strong European Presence
The Danish club enters European qualifying for the 13th consecutive year, and they do so on the back of their strongest continental run to date. Last season, Midtjylland achieved a record haul of coefficient points for a Danish side in a single campaign, lifting them to 47th on the European club coefficient list, the highest position in the club’s history.
Head coach Mike Tullberg addressed the Turkish media on Wednesday, emphasizing that his team will approach this tie with the same mindset that delivered impressive results against leading European opponents last season. He noted that Midtjylland believes they can compete with and potentially overcome top sides, while still maintaining respect for Thursday’s hosts.
Beşiktaş has made significant changes ahead of the new season. Italian coach Vincenzo Italiano, previously in charge at Fiorentina and Bologna, has taken over, and the squad has been strengthened with high-profile additions, including Leandro Trossard from Arsenal, who started in the Champions League final just two months ago. Tullberg mentioned that he is familiar with some figures within the Beşiktaş setup from his own time at Borussia Dortmund.
Midtjylland has also reshaped parts of their squad. Aral Simsir has departed, but forward Franculino has returned from a long injury absence and is back in contention. The club has signed Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, a prominent name from the Bundesliga, and brought in young talent Kjell Wätjen from Dortmund. The player Etim is back from a loan spell after a prolific period in front of goal. Tullberg stressed that the focus is on the players available now rather than those who are absent.
As they prepare for this crucial matchup, the Danish side will also begin their 3F Superliga campaign on Sunday, while Beşiktaş starts their domestic league season on August 16. Midtjylland has stated that the schedule poses no concern for them, as the squad is accustomed to playing twice a week and plans to commit fully to each fixture during this important early stretch of the season.