The tie is delicately balanced after a goalless first leg in Finland, and both managers have responded by making sweeping changes—Copenhagen rest seven regulars, Inter Turku eight. That rotation makes form hard to read, but Copenhagen’s home-grown depth should still give them a m…
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Sign inFC Copenhagen welcome Finnish side Inter Turku to their Parken home on Thursday evening for the decisive second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff round tie. After a goalless draw in Finland a week ago, the contest is finely poised with a place in the league phase at stake.
Bo Svensson has a new attacking weapon after the club confirmed the signing of South African winger Thapelo Maseko earlier this week. The 22‑year‑old arrives from Mamelodi Sundowns and has been described by the Copenhagen head coach as “an explosive, dynamic player” who “will make him a constant threat in behind”. After Robert Silva’s subdued display on the flank in the first leg, Maseko could be thrust straight into the matchday squad.
Otherwise, Copenhagen have no fresh injury concerns. Goalkeeper Alex Rúnarsson is expected to continue after his first‑leg heroics, most notably the fine save that denied Alie Conteh’s volley. Inter Turku are likely to stick with the side that frustrated the Danes, with Conteh again leading the line after two clear chances went begging in the home leg.
Copenhagen’s European campaign has been built on a solid foundation, with 13 goals scored and only five conceded across qualifying. The 5‑0 demolition of Debrecen in the previous round showcased their attacking potential, but the blunt performance in Turku exposed a recurring early‑season theme: a cautious approach under Svensson that can stifle their own creativity. A 4‑1 domestic win over Randers at the weekend should have restored some confidence, and a return to the artificial surface at Parken — where they often play with more tempo — is a significant factor.
Inter Turku have been one of the more disciplined stories of the qualifying rounds. They held Vaduz 2‑2 before winning the return 2‑1, and a recent goalless draw in the Veikkausliiga against Lahti kept a third clean sheet in four outings. In the first leg, despite being out‑shot 46‑24, they created the game’s best opportunities: Conteh’s late first‑half volley and a free header from a corner both required sharp reactions from Rúnarsson. The Finns will need that same efficiency in Copenhagen.
Should Maseko debut, his direct running and one‑against‑one quality will examine the organisation that kept Copenhagen’s wide men quiet seven days ago. Svensson noted the winger “can use his left foot to assist teammates when cutting inside”, and that unpredictable movement from the left could be the antidote to the visitors’ compact shape. If Maseko starts on the bench, Silva will have a point to prove after a night to forget in Finland, but the Dane will have to find far more incision to unsettle a backline that rarely lost its structure.
One moment of quality or a single defensive lapse may be all that separates the sides. After the final whistle, one team will be studying the league phase draw while the other faces elimination. Copenhagen, backed by a vociferous Parken crowd, will expect to take that step; Inter Turku have already shown they can frustrate more illustrious opponents and will travel with genuine ambition.
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