Europa League qualifying: McGrath nets free-kick to give Hibs dream start at Midtjylland

BBC News

24-07-2025

Update:
Date: 18:44 BST
Title: Written in the stars?
Content: Midtjylland 0-1 Hibernian
Brian McLauchlinBBC Scotland at MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark.
Hibs scored as a rainbow was seen in the skies over the MCH Arena! Wos!
Update:
Date: 18:42 BST
Title: 'Intelligent stuff'
Content: Midtjylland 0-1 Hibernian
Joelle MurrayFormer Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound
Unbelievable from Jamie McGrath, really intelligent stuff.
What a fantastic start from Hibs.
Update:
Date: 18:42 BST
Title: 'Well-deserved'
Content: Midtjylland 0-1 Hibernian
Scott AllanFormer Hibernian midfielder on BBC Sportsound
Hibs a goal to the good and well-deserved in my eyes.
Update:
Date: 6mins
Title: GOAL Midtjylland 0-1 Hibernian
Content: Jamie McGrath
Wow!
Jamie McGrath floats in a free-kick and goalkeeper Jonas Lossl is fooled at his near post and fails in his attempt to claw the ball off the line.
Debut goal for the former Aberdeen midfielder.
Update:
Date: 3mins
Title: Post
Content: Midtjylland 0-0 Hibernian
Should do better!
Martin Boyle again threatens. The Australia winger rises to meet a cross, he's unchallenged and he ought to at least hit the target but instead heads wastefully wide off his shoulder.
Update:
Date: 18:34 BST
Title: Hibs on top
Content: Midtjylland 0-0 Hibernian
Scott AllanFormer Hibernian midfielder on BBC Sportsound
A fantastic start from Hibs. The two times the ball dropped in the middle of the field, a Hibs player was the first to it.
Update:
Date: 1min
Title: Post
Content: Midtjylland 0-0 Hibernian
Hibs are in attack immediately and Chris Cadden's cross just evades the head of Martin Boyle in the six-yard box and the visitors follow that up by winning a corner as the winger's strike at goal takes a deflection.
Update:
Date: 18:32 BST
Title: KICK-OFF
Content: Midtjylland 0-0 Hibernian
Midtjylland emerge from their huddle in red and black stripes before Hibs kick off in their tradition green tops with white sleeves.
Will the Leith side avoid being dumped in Denmark and set themselves up for a good night at Easter Road? Thumps up for yes, thumbs down for no.
Update:
Date: 18:29 BST
Title: Danes full of quality
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Thomas Thomasberg is in his second spell as Midtjylland head coach and has gathered together a young squad with international experience from around the world.
Up front he has Poland's Adam Buksa and Guinea-Bissau's Franculino Dju, who is reportedly of interest to several Premier League clubs.
Denil Castillo, who has just made his Ecuador debut, is on the bench, while another 21-year-old, winger Dario Osorio, plays for Chile and defender Lee Han-beom recently debuted for South Korea.
Although Kevin Mbabu did not make it even to Rangers' bench on loan from Newcastle United in 2015, the 30-year-old right-back has since played for Young Boys, Wolfsburg and Fulham while earning 25 caps for Switzerland.
Midtjylland are captained by former Brentford centre-back Mads Bech Sorensen, while veteran goalkeeper Jonas Lossl also played for the Premier League club, as well as Huddersfield Town in the English top flight.
Update:
Date: 18:28 BST
Title: Here we go...
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30 BST)
Brian McLauchlinBBC Scotland at MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark.
The atmosphere inside the MCH Arena is quite incredible and the travelling fans are certainly ensuring their voices are heard.
The Midtjylland club anthem now blasting out over the speakers and a standing ovation from the crowd as the teams emerge from the tunnel.
Update:
Date: 18:27 BST
Title: Danes 1-1 against Scots
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Having lost 7-3 on aggregate to Rangers in Europa League qualifying in 2019, Midtjylland's improvement was such that they knocked Celtic out of the Champions League qualifying, 3-2 on aggregate, two years later.
Update:
Date: 18:25 BST
Title: 'Stay in the tie'
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Joelle MurrayFormer Scotland defender on BBC Sportsound
The main thing is staying the tie, ensuring whatever result we get means we're still in the tie next week.
I think we've got the character. The quality in the squad and the fans that could really get behind the team at Easter Road and overcome a defeat or turn a draw into a win next week.
Update:
Date: 18:23 BST
Title: 'Game should bring best out of Hibs'
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Scott AllanFormer Hibernian midfielder on BBC Sportsound
Looking at Hibs, I think they're stronger than they were last year. You'd expect this type of occasion to bring the best out of these players.
This is the level you want to be playing at. These are the opponents you want to test yourselves against.
I'm really intrigued and excited to see how Hibs are going to look tonight.
Update:
Date: 18:21 BST
Title: Hibs' long wait to beat Danes
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Hibs' reward for ending their long wait to lift the Scottish Cup in 2016 was a meeting with Brondby at the same stage of this competition.
The Danes left Easter Road with a 1-0 victory, but present head coach David Gray found an equaliser in Copenhagen to take the second leg to a penalty shootout, with Scotland midfielder John McGinn the only player to miss from the spot.
Previously, Hibs lost to Odense on away goals in Intertoto Cup second round in 2006.
They have to go back to 1962 for a win over Danish opponents - beating Staevnet in 1962 in Fairs Cup, 7-2 on aggregate.
Update:
Date: 18:19 BST
Title: Around 1,000 Hibs fans in Denmark
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Brian McLauchlinBBC Scotland at MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark.
Twelve months ago, Hibs were struggling to get to grips with Kelty Hearts in the group stages of the League Cup.
How times have changed for David Gray and his players as their quest to enter the Europa League proper begins in earnest here in Denmark.
There is a confidence within the squad and why wouldn't there be? The vast majority of the players finished last season in fine style and look like they have added real quality in the summer.
The hosts this evening, though, are no mugs. Midtjylland are regulars in various European competitions and will definitely be a severe test, both this evening and next week at Easter Road.
Update:
Date: 18:16 BST
Title: 1000 Hibs fans in Herning
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Midtjylland's MCH Arena holds 15,000 fans, but there will be just over 12,000 tonight because Uefa does not allow safe standing areas.
Hibs have 1000 following them to Herning in the central region of , externalthe Jutland peninsula.
Update:
Date: 18:14 BST
Title: Thomasberg vows to 'take risks'
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Midtjylland head coach Thomas Thomasberg tells BBC Scotland: "We are ready, we are at home, we need to try to get a result.
"We'll try to attack but also have a good idea of how we'll defend. If you want to go to the Europa League, you've got to win three and this is the first of the three.
"I know Hibs are ready, they want to fight, they want to show they are a good team. We are prepared, so we will try to push them back from the beginning.
"We are an attacking team, sometimes the opponent will score, but we will need to score more than them. We are always taking some kind of risk."
Update:
Date: 18:11 BST
Title: 'A difficult task' - Gray
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
Hibs head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "It's something the fans have been able to look forward to for a long time. They live it and breathe it with us every single week and they need to enjoy these moments. Hopefully now we can put on a performance and send them home happy."
As for his new midfielders, Gray adds: "The two of them [Jamie McGrath and Josh Mulligan] have settled in really well. They've both played in Scotland, they know what it's all about.
"Jamie's played in Europe before, so there's experience that comes with that and Josh gives you loads of legs and energy in the middle of the pitch, which we'll need.
"It's a difficult task, we know that, but what better place to play your first competitive game than trying to qualify for the Europa League."
Update:
Date: 18:09 BST
Title: Two-goal Dju starts for home side
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
While Hibs have only played pre-season friendlies, Thomas Thomasberg's home side have already played once in the Danish top flight.
Turkish striker Aral Simsir comes into the side after their 3-3 draw at home to OB Odense in place of midfielder Dani Silva.
Not surprisingly, Franculino Djú, the 21-year-old forward attracting interest from throughout Europe, starts after his two goals at the weekend.
Update:
Date: 18:05 BST
Title: Hibs eye first group stage
Content: Midtjylland v Hibernian (18:30)
While Midtjylland are aiming for a seventh involvement at group level across Uefa's competitions in just 25 years of existence, Hibs have yet to do so as they celebrate their 150th anniversary.
The Leith side have failed in six attempts to progress through the qualifiers in the last 15 years, which explains why the Danes are ranked 166 places above Hibs at 71st in the European rankings.
They came closest two season's ago, when they progressed through two rounds of Conference League qualifying before being thrashed 8-0 on aggregate in the play-off round by Aston Villa.
However, Gray's side will hope to continue last season's form, when they moved from the bottom of the Scottish Premiership in early December to seal third place with a game to spare after equalling a club-record run of 17 league games unbeaten.