PREVIEW: WEEKEND DANISH ACTION David Smith - Friday, August 21, 2009
Danny Califf and the Wolves have a tough task to get their first win under new coach Allan Kuhn while Benny Feilhaber and Jeremiah White will try to continue Aarhus' strong start.
FC Midtjylland - FC Copenhagen
After losing their first game under the post-Thomasberg on Monday might, Danny Califf is expected to once again start in Midtjylland's central defense as they host reigning league and cup champions Copenhagen and try to shake off their early-season funk.
The Wolves' slow start was enough for team officials who showed previous coach Thomas Thomasberg the door and brought in Califf's old assistant coach at Aalborg Allan Kuhn, however the new skipper was immediately thrown to the wolves in having to face two of the league's best in his first two outings.
His Saturday opponents Copenhagen are coming off of a difficult home loss to league leaders Aarhus, and are looking to re-assert themselves after undergoing a slow start by their own standards that has left them in sixth place after five games.
Copenhagen, who are coming off of a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League playoff with Cypriot team APOEL are reporting no injuries or suspensions, but will be without wantaway Brazilian striker Jose Junior for the season, as he has been loaned to ailing Randers.
Kuhn will likely be without midfielder Adigun Salami and forwards Kim Christensen and Baba Collins, who were all forced out of last week's game with slight injuries.
AGF Aarhus - Silkeborg IF
After showing the league that they mean business with their win on the road over Copenhagen, Jeremiah White and Benny Feilhaber look to continue Aarhus' unbeaten run to start the season when they host Silkeborg IF on Saturday.
Aarhus have stormed to the top with a string of four wins and one tie in their first five games, and are showing that they are once again becoming a force in Denmark under coach Erik Rassmussen after several years of dormancy.
Their opponents for Saturday, Silkeborg IF, have fallen off in the last three weeks after starting out the season strongly, and have shown serious defensive frailties in leaking a trio of goals in each of their last two games.
The attack-minded Rassmussen will certainly look to exploit his opponents' weakness in front of the Aarhus home crowd, giving the expectation of a wide-open game which will utilize Feilhaber's creativity in central midfield.
Both teams head into the game with full squads, as Silkeborg are reporting no injuries or suspensions and Aarhus will only be missing defender Dan Thomassen, who is out for a spell with a sprained ankle.
SønderjyskE - FC Nordsjælland
Michael Parkhurst will get the start for Nordsjælland on Sunday as they try to shake off their midweek disappointment in Aalborg and take advantage of a SønderjyskE which has failed to win in their four games since opening weekend.
The Wild Tigers once again dropped points in the final few minutes of regulation on Wednesday night, however will have high hopes of redemption against a team which has proved futile in goal so far this season with a league's worst three goal scored, including none in each of their last two outings.
Nordsjælland coach Morten Wieghorst suffered the loss of targetman Martin Bernberg early in the week after he completed his transfer to Brøndby, meaning he'll have to depend on new Swedish riser Rawez Lawan to give bite to their attack.
He otherwise has a full squad to choose with the exception of defender Jonathan Richter who is still in recovery. Likewise, the hosts are currently reporting no absences from the team.
Vejle BK - FC Roskilde
Jamil Fearrington will hope to see the field once again for Roskilde on Sunday when they head to Vejle in their attempt to climb out of the league's cellar after a heavy defeat the week before.
Roskilde gave up a startling four goals to Horsens to lose their second straight out of the gates, with Fearrington making his league debut for the team as a second-half substitute.
Their opponents Vejle won't present any easier of a task, as they have shown the knack for attacking bite with their five-goal performance in opening week against Skive and re looking for a quick promotion back into the top tier.
Notes
Marcus Tracy is not expected to take the field when Aalborg pay a visit to Esbjerg fB on Sunday afternoon.
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