Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad Prediction: Imanol’s Real deal can land 21/20 shot

A last-16 showdown with either Manchester United or Tottenham awaits the winner of the Uefa Europa League knockout phase play-off tie between FC Midtjylland and Real Sociedad, the first leg of which is live on TNT Sports 6 on Thursday (17:45, TNT Sports 6).

It's a first-ever competitive meeting between the Danes and the Spaniards and while the visitors boast the great European pedigree, they won't take Thomas Thomasberg's men lightly. Read on for my Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad predictions, supported by team news and match odds.

Team News

Former Huddersfield Town and Brentford keeper Jonas Lossl is set to start for a third straight game with Elias Olafsson ruled out for the hosts.

Kristoffer Olsson and Cho Gue-Sung are doubts.

Football Odds

Centre-back Igor Zubeldia is available for La Real after returning to training this week following an injury. Left-back Aihen Munoz is out.

Midtjylland vs Real Sociedad Odds

Real Sociedad, the seeded side and going well in La Liga, are clear favourites at 21/20 in the 90-minute betting, implying a 48.8% chance of success, with Midtjylland available at 11/4, or a 26.7% chance.

Four of Midtjylland's eight group games produced 2-0 scorelines, and a 2-0 home correct score is 18/1, a 2-0 away correct score 17/2.

Real Sociedad to win @ 21/20

Midtjylland finished the league phase in 20th position, two points and seven places adrift of their Basque guests at the MCH Arena in Herning.

The Danes were going well after taking seven points from their opening three games, including a 2-0 win against Maccabi Tel Aviv and a 1-0 win against Union Saint-Gilloise.

But they then lost three in a row before beating Ludogorets 2-0 and then leaving it late to snatch a 2-2 draw at home to Fenerbahce to limp over the line.

Sociedad had few such issues, winning four of their last six to nail down a seeded spot in the play-off round.

They boast a greater European pedigree than the Danes - this time last year Imanol's men were preparing for a Champions League double-header with Paris Saint-Germain after winning a group featuring Benfica and Inter Milan.

La Real have had a couple of wins over the last week, 2-0 against Osasuna in the Copa del Rey and 1-0 against Espanyol in La Liga, while Midtjylland have played only two Europa League games since the middle of December with the Super League on its mid-winter break.

There weren't many goals in Midtjylland's matches in the group stage - 18 in eight - so this could be a low scorer, but it looks the type of game the visitors can nick.

Midtjylland Over 4.5 Corners @ 5/6

The first legs of two-legged ties can often be cagey but the onus is on Thomasberg's Danes to try to take something to San Sebastian next week.

To that end expect them to show some degree of positivity, perhaps best illustrated in a reasonable corner count, certainly over five.

They are averaging 5.1 corners per game in the Europa League this season and Real domestically concede around 5.3 in away games.

Offers

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