Prediction: Celtic vs FC Midtjylland

Prediction: Draw

Best Odds: 12/5

Bookmaker: 888sport

The UEFA Champions League final may have only taken place a few months ago, but we’re already getting ready for the new campaign with the qualifying rounds being underway. Many teams at this phase won’t have realistic hopes of winning the whole thing, but if they can build some momentum and make their way into the group stage, anything is possible – which is the hope Celtic and FC Midtjylland will have heading into this tie.

Celtic

Celtic aren’t the kind of team to bet on in Europe because more often than not, they slip up pretty early on in the process. They’ve had a few headline-making moments across the last few decades but that isn’t enough to make us believe they can get out of the funk they’re in. They’ve got a long road ahead of them just to wrestle back control of the Scottish Premiership title picture, and that’s before we even get onto their European exploits.

FC Midtjylland

While they may have missed out on the Danish Super League title last season, FC Midtjylland are still the kind of team that can cause just about anyone problems – as they’ve proven in their European exploits over the course of the last few years. Whether or not they can balance that out with a solid defensive structure as they have done in the past remains to be seen, but they’re a team on the rise and that can only mean good things against an uncertain entity like Celtic.

Factors to Consider

• Celtic are considered to be the favourite with the bookies for this first leg.
• Celtic finished last season with two wins, two draws and two losses.
• Midtjylland finished last season with two wins, one draw and three losses.
• Celtic have scored 12 goals and conceded seven in their last six games.
• Midtjylland have scored 12 goals and conceded 10 in their last six games.

Conclusion

With Celtic being at home you’d like to think they will be able to pick up a nice advantage heading into the second leg, but we’re not so sure that’s going to happen. Midtjylland are a tough outfit and we think they’re going to make this a pretty gritty tie, leading to neither team getting a major edge in this first leg. We’re backing both to get on the scoresheet but it won’t be a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination, ending in a 1-1 draw.

Prediction: Draw

Best Odds: 12/5

Bookmaker: 888sport