FC Midtjylland vs HNK Rijeka: Conference League playoff preview
FC Midtjylland welcome HNK Rijeka to their MCH Arena home in Herning on Thursday 20 August 2026 for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League playoff round tie, with a place in the group stage at stake. The Danish side arrive on the back of a convincing aggregate victory over Bohemians, while Rijeka will be determined to take a positive result back to Croatia for the return leg.
Midtjylland team news and injury latest
Midtjylland are expected to line up in their familiar 4-3-3 shape, though manager Thomas Thomasberg has three confirmed absentees. Defender Ousmane Diao is sidelined with a foot injury, while attackers Mikel Gogorza and Junior Brumado are also ruled out. In their 3-2 home win over Bohemians last week – a match that completed a 5-2 aggregate triumph – Franculino, Cho Gue-Sung and Valdemar Byskov Andreasen all featured prominently in the front line. The midfield axis of Pedro Bravo, Denil Castillo and Philip Billing provided control, and that trio is likely to start again. Elias Olafsson will continue in goal behind a back four likely to include Rasmus Kristensen, Martin Erlic and Mads Bech.