Midtjylland vs Sporting Preview: xG map, attacking and defensive zones, and key players

Sporting travels to the MCH Arena on Thursday for the second leg of the UEFA Europa League knockout playoffs against Midtjylland. This can turn out to be another fierce and closely-contested encounter after both teams played out a 1-1 draw in Lisbon last week.

Despite being the underdogs, Midtjylland looked certain to secure an impressive victory when Emam Ashour’s powerful strike gave them the lead at 77 minutes. However, Sporting managed to clinch a crucial late equaliser through Sebastian Coates deep in injury time. As a result, it all boils down to the all-important second leg to decide which team will progress to the Round of 16 of the competition. Below are some stats of both teams from the current to comprehend how this upcoming contest could play out.

Overall performances of both teams

The viz above shows the percentile rank of both teams’ stats compared to each other as well as to other teams in the 2022–23 season of European competitions. Both teams outperform each other in a few departments, even though the disparity between the level of competition in the two leagues can be considered. Notably, the hosts have the upper hand in terms of goals per 90, accurate passes, possession rate, and high press success rate. Alternatively, the visitors have superior stats in areas such as xG per 90, shots, key passes, final third entries, and recoveries.

Another area where there is a similarity between both teams is their current position in the domestic league, with both teams ranked fourth currently. Midtjylland are yet to be beaten at home in the Europa League this season, winning two matches and scoring nine goals. On the other hand, Sporting have registered three consecutive away wins across the competition and have three wins from their last five matches.

Both teams in front of the goal

Midtjylland have taken 58 shots in total and scored 12 goals with a non-penalty xG tally of 7.22. They have also converted one out of two penalties. The Danish side scored a few of the goals from inside the six-yard box and one from a long-range effort from very far out. They scored at the rate of 1.86 goals per match while averaging 1.28 xG. Midtjylland attempts 9.14 shots per match with 42.2% accuracy.

Alternatively, Sporting Lisbon have taken a total of 43 shots and scored eight goals. They scored all but one of the goals from close range inside the penalty box, accumulating 4.83 xG in total. The xG map above shows the Liga Portugal side has attempted most of their shots inside the box but has also shown the desire to shoot accurately from a distance. Sporting have scored 1.29 goals per match, averaging an xG of 0.92. They average eight shots per match with a 41.1% accuracy rate.

Attacking zones

The above viz depicts the ball progression made by Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League 2022–23. The Danish side creates 20.86 positional attacks per 90, with 23.3% ending in shots. Additionally, they attempt 64.14 progressive passes per match with 59.5% accuracy, of which 48.86 are to the final third (59.6% accuracy). Midtjylland depends significantly on the wide positions to make ball progression, with not much intensity shown in the central zones while going forward.

In terms of attacking moves, Sporting performs 20.14 positional attacks per 90 minutes in European matches, with 22.7% ending in shots. Additionally, they make 64.43 progressive passes per 90 with 64.5% accuracy, which includes 41 passes to the final third (62.5% accuracy). The Lions make frequent use of the flanks to progress the ball forward and also generate attacking moves through the central zones with decent intensity.

Defensive zones

The two visuals above compare both teams based on their average defensive territory on the pitch. Both teams make a good amount of defensive actions all around the pitch, including the penalty area. The average position of the two teams’ backlines on the pitch is similar, and they have also given up a few fouls inside their box. Overall, the Danish team averages 44.14 interceptions and 79.57 recoveries per match, and these values are very similar compared to the interceptions and recoveries made by the Liga Portugal side. Additionally, the hosts give up 9.57 fouls per match compared to the 10.86 fouls committed by the visitors.

Key players

Gustav Isaksen has been one of the top players for Midtjylland this season. He scored a brilliant hat trick in his last league match and is also the team’s top contributor in the Europa League 2022–23 with three goals and two assists. The Danish winger brings a genuine threat from the right wing as he delivers crosses and beats opposition players with his immaculate dribbling. Sporting defenders will have the job of nullifying Isaksen’s presence on the flank to achieve a favourable result.

Marcus Edwards has chipped in with some strong performances for Sporting this season. Apart from his ten-goal contributions in the league, he has also scored two goals and provided two assists for Sporting in Europe. On his day, he can be lethal against any opposition with his speed, ball control, and accurate shooting. Midtjylland will be hoping it’s not one of those days when they face off against Marcus Edwards’ team.

Team news

Midtjylland have no reported injuries in their squad and are at full strength. They can be expected to name their strongest lineup. Meanwhile, Sporting CP are expected to be without the injured duo of Dario Essugo and Daniel Braganca. Apart from these two players, the remainder of the Sporting squad should be ready to play.

With a spot in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16 at stake, the second leg of Midtjylland vs Sporting will be one of the most interesting matchups come Thursday night. The Liga Portugal powerhouse remains the firm favourite to progress. However, the Danish side has done well to keep themselves in the tie and will pose a formidable challenge at their home ground.