Fredericia are set to make a piece of history on Sunday as they are set to play in their first-ever game in the Danish Superliga.
Indeed, they will host Nordsjaelland, having won promotion to Denmark's top flight by finishing in second place in the second tier in the 2024/25 campaign. Fredericia have played a number of pre-season friendlies in preparation for the big occasion, but have failed to win any of their last two leading up to Sunday.
Nordsjaelland are an established team in the Danish top flight, and finished in a fairly respectable fifth place last season, but a huge 17 points behind eventual title winners Copenhagen. They will be hoping to bridge that gap a lot closer this time around, but may not find it easy against newly-promoted Fredericia.
Indeed, the visitors come into this clash having only won one of their last four matches in total across all competitions. The only previous H2H in recent years also saw them held to a draw, so the hosts will feel somewhat confident of causing an upset.
How the bookies view it: Fredericia not fancied
Fredericia are priced as 10/3 outsiders with BoyleSports to claim what would be a famous three points, while a draw is valued at 11/4 with the same bookmaker. Nordsjaelland are 4/7 odds-on favourites to win away from home.
Given the visitors' somewhat poor form, and how big the occasion is for the hosts, we feel happy to back the draw here at those odds.
Recent head-to-head: Bore draw in maiden meeting
These two teams met for the first time in a club friendly back in January. Fredericia managed to hold Nordsjaelland to a respectable 0-0 draw.
Players to watch: Egeli could sprinkle stardust
Ovie Ejeheri is likely to be one of a number of players that Fredericia will hand debuts to. As a brand new goalkeeper in between the sticks, he is likely to be called into action on a fair number of occasions.
Sindre Walle Egeli is the star of the Nordsjaelland team, having scored a total of nine goals for them in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign.
Predicted lineups
Alongside Ejeheri, both Adam Nygaard and Malthe Ladefoged are also likely to make their debuts for Fredericia.
Nicklas Rojkjaer could also make his debut for the opposing team, with Nordsjaelland having no fresh injury concerns or suspensions to report.
Fredericia: Ejeheri; Dahl, Nygaard, Ladefoged, Thogersen; Madsen, Jessen, Winther; Simonsen, Egelund, Marcussen.
Nordsjaelland: Hansen; Ankersen, Acquah, Marxen, Seidu; Rojkjaer, Janssen, Ascone; Egeli, Nene, Junior.
Anything else catch the eye?
With both teams only keeping one clean sheet in their last four games in all competitions respectively, we are expecting Both Teams To Score (BTTS). This, combined with backing Over 3.5 total goals in what could be an entertaining affair, offers 17/10 odds with BoyleSports.
With the home crowd in full force on a historic day, the same odds with the same bookmaker would see Fredericia score first, which we feel could also be worth a punt.
GambleAware