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BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hibs' Gray confident despite Midtjylland pedigree
Europa League, second qualifying round, second leg: Hibernian v Midtjylland (1-1)Venue: Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Thursday, 31 July Kick-off: 20:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC Scotland & BBC Radio Scotland, text updates on BBC Sport website Hibernian head coach David Gray has reminded his players Midtjylland are a Champions League-quality side but says the Edinburgh side are "confident" of progress in Europa League believes Thursday's visitors, who thew drew 1-1 with Denmark, remain favourites and emphasised their quality with a 6-2 thrashing of Sonderjyske in the Danish Superliga on Monday night, an improvement on their 3-3 opening draw with OB Odense."That was all we could hope for from the first leg - to make sure you're still in the tie," Gray said."You've got something to play for in the second leg, knowing what that would do as well with the support and European football back at Easter Road." Fredrikstad, who finished sixth in Norway's Eliteserien, lie in wait for the winners."As you would expect, the players have trained really well, full of confidence, take a lot of confidence from the last game," Gray said."But we are also very quick to remind the players that it is only half time in the tie - it's a real difficult challenge we still face. Just because we've done so well over there doesn't mean it becomes any easier just because we're at home."They are a top team that's played in the Champions League. I keep saying that to the players. They're off the back of Monday night, they had a real positive performance and result, so they'll become a bit more confident."Gray thinks his side will have to "replicate that level of performance at least" from the first leg to to the small number of Danish fans making the trip over to support their side, the home contingent is set to be more than 18,500, breaking records set since Easter Road Stadium was having recovered from a torrid start to last season to finish third, routinely buoyed by an emphatic home support in crucial games against top-six opponents, Gray knows that energy from the crowd can play a huge part in the result."We're well aware of the challenge, players are well aware of the challenge, but these are the nights you want, this is why you do it," he said."A sell-out crowd, I believe. Because they've only got a few hundred supporters coming over, this will be the most Hibs supporters at a game for 40 years, potentially."The academy is doing so well, the women's team is doing so well, the feel-good factor around the football club at the moment and the fans play a massive role in that every single week."Midtjylland first-team coach Allan Jepsen is wary of the extra motivation the Hibs players will receive from a large home crowd. "We managed to get the ball into the dangerous zones several times, but we just weren't skilled enough," he told his club website. "The quality when we get in there needs to be higher."And it's clear that we don't want to repeat the start from last time. We can hopefully be the dominant team from the start." Team news Australia right-back Lewis Miller and midfielders Joe Newell and Rudi Molotnikov missed the first leg for Hibs through injury and will be absent coach Thomas Thomasberg made five changes to his starting line-up for Monday's domestic victory. Match statistics Hibs are looking to reach the group/league stage of European competition for the first time. Midtjylland reached the Europa League's new league phase last season - the fourth time they have progressed through the qualifiers in five have won two and lost one at home to Danish opposition in European a 4-0 win over Staevnet in 1962, they defeated Odense 2-1 in 2006 but lost 1-0 to Brondby in 2016 and lost the tie overall on have yet to record a victory in Scotland, losing 3-1 to Rangers in 2019 and drawing 1-1 with Celtic two years assistant coach Morten Rasmussen has fond memories of playing against Hibs, scoring a winning goal as a Celtic substitute in a 3-2 victory in 2010.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hibernian learn next potential opponents in Europe - tell us your views
Hibernian will face Norwegian side Fredrikstad in the Europa League third qualifying round should they defeat a favourable draw for David Gray's side, should they negotiate a tricky test against qualified for the third qualifying round by winning the 2024 Norwegian Cup. They beat Molde in the finished sixth in Eliteserien last season, but have crucially already played 13 games of this league season, and currently sit eighth with six wins, three draws and six defeats. Should Hibs lose to Midtjylland, they drop into the Conference League and will face either Oleksandriya of Ukraine or Partizan Belgrade of finished second in the Ukrainian Premier League for the first time last season, which earned them this spot in the Conference dropped down from the Europa League following their defeat to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca on fans, what do you make of the draw? Give us your thoughts here.
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Hibs learn Europa League draw fate as they face Norwegian side if they beat Midtjylland
Hibs take on the Danes this week and will set up a tie with Fredrikstad if they emerge victorious Hibs have been drawn against Fredrikstad if they beat Midtjylland in Europa League qualifying. David Gray 's team kick off their second qualifying round tie with the away leg in Denmark this week before the return leg at Easter Road on Thursday July 31. It's a tough draw but Gray has been clear he fancies their chances and they now have the added incentive of knowing who they will face if they can reach the third round. After today's draw in Nyon it's been announced the winner of Hibs and Midtjylland will take on Norwegian side Fredrikstad. If Hibs are unsuccessful then they drop into the Conference League section where one of the following teams lie in wait depending on the draw for that competition later this afternoon. Beşiktaş or Shakhtar Donetsk Oleksandriya (Ukraine) or Partizan Beograd (Serbia) Novi Pazar (Serbia) or Jagiellonia Białystok (Poland) Arda Kardzhali 1924 (Bulgaria) or HJK Helsinki (Finland) Hammarby (Sweden) or Charleroi (Belgium) Baník Ostrava (Czech Republic) or Legia Warsaw (Poland). But they aren't thinking about the worst case scenario at this stage with Gray confident they can do the business against the Danes. He told Sky Sports: "It's a difficult draw but one the players need to look forward to, I'm certainly looking forward to it, the fans will be looking forward to it - we all really need to look fHibs have been drawn against Fredrikstad if they beat Midtjylland in Europa League qualifying. David Gray 's team kick off their second qualifying round tie with the away leg in Denmark this week before the return leg at Easter Road on Thursday July 31. It's a tough draw but Gray has been clear he fancies their chances and they now have the added incentive of knowing who they will face if they can reach the third round. After today's draw in Nyon it's been announced the winner of Hibs and Midtjylland will take on Norwegian side Fredrikstad. If Hibs are unsuccessful then they drop into the Conference League section where one of the following teams lie in wait depending on the draw for that competition later this afternoon. Beşiktaş or Shakhtar Donetsk Oleksandriya (Ukraine) or Partizan Beograd (Serbia) Novi Pazar (Serbia) or Jagiellonia Białystok (Poland) Arda Kardzhali 1924 (Bulgaria) or HJK Helsinki (Finland) Hammarby (Sweden) or Charleroi (Belgium) Baník Ostrava (Czech Republic) or Legia Warsaw (Poland). But they aren't thinking about the worst case scenario at this stage with Gray confident they can do the business against the Danes. He told Sky Sports: "It's a difficult draw but one the players need to look forward to, I'm certainly looking forward to it, the fans will be looking forward to it - we all really need to look forward to it. "There's a real feel-good factor around the club. "We've demonstrated already that we're a very good side, there's a reason why we finished where we did in the league, the run we went on doesn't happen by accident. "We've got a very good group of players here who are constantly trying to get better. "We know we need to keep improving, that we don't rest on our laurels. There are a lot of improvements still to come but this is what you want to do when you come to this football club. "The opportunity to try and play in Europe and test yourself against top teams. "We're definitely going to be tested, we need to be at the very top of our game but are we capable of getting a result? Absolutely. And we'll be going there with a game-plan and belief to try and get into the next round." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks. orward to it. "There's a real feel-good factor around the club. "We've demonstrated already that we're a very good side, there's a reason why we finished where we did in the league, the run we went on doesn't happen by accident. "We've got a very good group of players here who are constantly trying to get better. "We know we need to keep improving, that we don't rest on our laurels. There are a lot of improvements still to come but this is what you want to do when you come to this football club. "The opportunity to try and play in Europe and test yourself against top teams. "We're definitely going to be tested, we need to be at the very top of our game but are we capable of getting a result? Absolutely. And we'll be going there with a game-plan and belief to try and get into the next round." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
