Aarhus vs. Sabah - prediction, team news, lineups

A week aft a stunning fightback against Lech Poznan, Aarhus big Azerbaijani champions Sabah astatine Randers Stadion successful the archetypal limb of their Champions League 3rd qualifying round.

The Danish champions overturned a 4-1 first-leg location nonaccomplishment to yet triumph connected penalties, pitting the Jutland outfit against an hostile whose antiaircraft resoluteness has been evident successful the archetypal and 2nd qualifying rounds.

Match preview

When AGF goalkeeper Jesper Hansen was sent disconnected aft 37 minutes against Lech, with the Danish broadside already trailing 1-0, fans of the Jutland-based nine astir apt feared the worst.

Those fears were apt realised arsenic they conceded 3 much aft the break, contempt Kristian Arnstad concisely halving the deficit, arsenic Jakob Poulsen's men fell to a 4-1 decision connected location soil.

That near the Danish champions facing an uphill situation successful the reverse fixture successful Poznan; however, they forced other clip with a stunning 3-0 occurrence aft 90 minutes earlier forcing a shootout aft matching their Polish opponents aft 120 minutes.

Buoyed by Mads Hedenstad's penalty-saving heroics — Hansen's replacement saved 2 spot-kicks — Poulsen's men instrumentality to Champions League enactment connected Wednesday, aiming to transportation that momentum into facing Valdas Dambrauskas's defensively resolute side.

Having not reached the tourney due successful immoderate of the continental nine tournaments since the 1997-98 UEFA Cup, a affirmative effect connected location turf this clip undeniably gives Byens Hold a genuine changeable of progressing to the playoff round.

Facing Sabah ostensibly ought to supply a stern trial for the Danish champions, particularly considering that the Owls person kept cleanable sheets successful 3 of their 4 matches successful Champions League qualifying.

Only The New Saints person managed to breach the Azerbaijani champions successful the archetypal and 2nd rounds, but a person look shows that Dambrauskas's squad conceded successful the 89th infinitesimal of the 2nd limb erstwhile they led 4-0 connected aggregate.

Keeping matches choky has been par for the people for Bayquslar, who person yet to people much than 2 goals successful immoderate of their matches against TNS oregon KuPS, undeniably a bedrock of their tally to this stage.

The existent tally of 3 cleanable sheets successful 4 was astir apt unforeseen aft a winless series of 3 matches successful their tune-up fixtures earlier the preliminary stage, including a 4-1 thrashing by Polissya astatine the commencement of July.

With their winning tally carrying them into the 3rd qualifying circular of the Champions League for the archetypal time, you would forgive fans of Sabah for dreaming of the anticipation of reaching the playoff circular and yet the tourney due of Europe's premier nine contention for the archetypal time.

Aarhus Champions League form:

Aarhus signifier (all competitions):

Sabah Champions League form:

Team News

With Hansen returning aft serving his suspension, Poulsen faces a hard telephone betwixt the sticks aft Hedenstad impressed against Lech, making 7 saves successful 120 minutes earlier thwarting 2 penalty-takers successful the shootout.

Kevin Yakob has not played since going disconnected successful the 4-1 nonaccomplishment to Lech; however, determination could beryllium returns for Markus Solbakken, Nicolai Poulsen and Tobias Molgaard, who person yet to diagnostic successful immoderate competitory lucifer this play but are portion of the squad for Wednesday.

Frederik Tingager was replaced aft 12 minutes against Lyngby astatine the weekend, making the centre-back doubtful for the archetypal leg.

Arnstad has scored successful each 4 competitory matches for AGF this word — 2 successful the Champions League and arsenic galore successful the Danish Superliga — and the guardant volition purpose to beryllium connected people for a 5th crippled running.

Joy-Lance Mickels scored 19 league goals successful Sabah's title-winning run past term, and the guardant has notched 2 successful Europe truthful far, hitting the people against TNS and KuPS.

The forward's menace is backed up by Veljko Simic, who has scored 3 goals and has assisted 1 successful 4 matches successful qualifying — including match-opening strikes against The New Saints and successful some legs versus KuPS — highlighting the Serbian's decisive final-third execution.

Stas Pokatilov has been successful extremity for each 4 matches successful the preliminary rounds, keeping 3 cleanable sheets, and the shot-stopper volition anticipation to proceed his good tally against the Danish champions.

Aarhus imaginable starting lineup:

Hedenstad; Jensen-Abbew, Callo, Kahl; Anderson, Knudsen, Jonsson, Emmery; Bech, Arnstad; Bogere

Sabah imaginable starting lineup:

Pokatilov; Zedadka, Solvet, Dashdamirov, Puchacz; Lepinjica, Rahmonaliev; Parris, Isayev, Simic; Mickels

We say: Aarhus 2-1 Sabah

High connected assurance aft their sensational fightback against Lech, AGF volition look to prehend the inaugural connected location ungraded down the signifier of Arnstad. 

Although Sabah's resolute backline has proved exceptionally pugnacious to breach successful qualifying, the Danish champions should person capable momentum to interruption down the stubborn visitors and found a constrictive first-leg lead.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.