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Midtjylland complaining about the dense list of fixtures

After today's game, Midtjylland have a 5th round match against Holstebro and are then traveling to Serbia where they will play two qualification games for Champions Leauge

This is the match between two top contenders this season and even though it's too early to talk about the title, the points in this match are very important to reach their desired goal. Ahead of their first match this season, both teams currently share the same position with 5 points each (2 wins 1 draw). Esbjerg's draw came against Viborg, another top contender and reigning champions, while in the first round, they beat the team with traditionally high ambitions TT Holstebro.

This is the first real derby for Midtjylland as they played against the mid-to-bottom-table clubs in the first three rounds and had an unplanned blunder in their first away game against Copenhagen. Esbjerg's coach Lars Frederiksen was happy with what his team has shown so far, although they could have taken the full load as they had a win on their hands against Viborg. Viborg got a point in that match in literally the last second of the game. When asked about his expectations for today, Frederiksen said:

- Midtjylland are top contenders for the title in the league, they have a very good roster with strong back players, "killer" wings and one of the best keepers in the league. Even though it's still early on, the winner of this duel can take the leading position later on in the season. We are ready for the game, we have no problems with the squad and we are hoping for a strong support from our fans just like in recent game against Viborg.

Midtjylland haven't been brilliant in terms of results at the start of the season, they won two home matches without a problem but they faltered in their first away game against Copenhagen, a team that cannot boast great results at the start of the new season. Dense list of fixtures and lots of games this week is something that Midtjylland's coach Helle Thomsen sees as the main problem of her team. After today's game, they have a 5th round match in two days against Holstebro, and then they have to travel to Serbia to play two Champions League qualifications games during the weekend.

- It's absurd to make any serious plans when we have to play on Monday, Wednesday, and then two important Champions League matches on Saturday and Sunday. We tried to move the match against Esbjerg a day or two earlier but Esbjer rejected this suggestion and I'm very angry about it. We have a difficult schedule and it would help us a lot to have more space in between games, now we can't do anything about it - said Midtjylland's coach.

Good news for the reigning champions is that all 15 players are available although Lina Jorgensen might get limited playing time due to her previous shoulder injury.

Based on Mdtjyland's game, the margins are recently being set for unders. But I think there's more than one reason to expect a match with at least one goal above the margin set for under/over. I think it will even be two goals over. Esbjerg have a very good offense roster this season, just like the last one, but with the addition of two excellent right backs Bjorndalen and van der Heijden. Grigel, two experienced wingers Kviesgaard and Kastrup, two pivot players, and Polman, league's top scorer last season. Polman has been having problems with an injury early in the season, she didn't spend a lot of time in the game so far, and didn't even play against Silkeborg. She was fit but the coach decided to give her some more time off ahead of this match today. That means we can expect her to be at her best level today. Midtjyland's game is built around a powerful defense but they've expanded the roster this season giving the offense more possibility to focus on that part of the game only. Right back and team captain Jorgesen is back on the team following an injury. The margin offered today was topped by one goal a week ago in Esbjerg's meeting with Viborg. Viborg played the entire game with only 8 players, trying to bring the pace down as much as possible. The teams meeting today have enough players to choose from and good-quality solutions for each and every position. Their head-to-head record would suggest an over too - 5 of their 6 head-to-head games in the last two season were overs, only one was under.