OB-FC Nordsjælland

Thursday 19/4 15.00

OB (6th) took an impressive win in Herning last weekend (2-0 against FC Midtjylland). OB were highly efficient in a match were the basic play was poor. OB need to improve their game since they cannot count on winning matches where they lose 17-4 in shots. OB will be without midfielder Kadrii and attacker Skoubo, but neither of them delivered much against FC Midtjylland. The two will probably be replaced by Azer Busuladzic and Emil Larsen, both quality replacements. OB will be able to field a physically strong central midfield with players like Spelmann, Skulason and Busuladzic. FC Nordsjælland (7th) suffered a tough defeat against Esbjerg on Monday (1-0). FC Nordsjælland delivered a strong effort and only super saves of Esbjerg’s goalkeeper kept them from scoring. It was an uplifting performance by FC Nordsjælland that proved that they are strong even without key players like central midfielder Nicolai Stokholm and winger Joshua John (both are doubtful for this match).  Winger Uffe Bech was back from injury and he deserves a lot of credit since he managed to make strong Esbjerg defender Peter Ankersen dizzy. Bech was only able to play 45 minutes and with this match only three days later we doubt FC Nordsjælland will use him any longer in this match (if he is even playing that is). What FC Nordsjælland were particularly good at was distributing the ball from the midfield. OB will have to put pressure on the FCN midfielders so they won’t do it again. FC Nordsjælland have a poor away record (eight points in twelve matches – four of them in the last two matches though) and the last four H2H’s have resulted in home wins.

The team that wins the fight for midfield is also the expected winner of this match. The question is whether the home field advantage will give OB extra energy. If so, they should win. Otherwise we have a fairly even game. If we had to choose, we would pick the draw at 3.50.

Idea: X – 3.50 at Mermaidbet

UPDATE: Kadrii called up for OB. Skoubo out injured. Bech, Stokholm and John all called up for FC Nordsjælland. OB likely to start with a five man midfield. Good for a draw bet.