UEL GW5 - Kings of Scandinavia

Daniel Chima of Molde (right) takes on Claudemir of Copenhagen (GW5)

 Widely held as the best team in Scandinavia, FC Copenhagen have dipped off in the last year from their lofty Champions League exploits over the past half-decade. This year they have had to settle with a Europa League birth ahead of Europe’s premier club competition, and have already found the group stage tricky. Alongside them in Group E, Norwegian champions Molde are succeeding domestically but blowing hot and cold in Europe. Managed by former Manchester United striker Ole Gunner Solskjaer, who has turned into one of Europe’s most promising up and coming managers, Molde have rewrote their previous history winning their first two league titles back to back over the last two seasons. Both sides were languishing in the bottom spots in their Europa group and needed a win realistically to keep their hopes alive of progression. Ahead of this must win tie, Molde would be especially up for the challenge as they threatened to overcome Copenhagen’s Scandinavia domination stretching back through the decade.

Each side play with contrasting styles, Molde with an expansive modern style of football, with four inter changing attacking players protected by a defensive duo sitting in front of a back four. Copenhagen are more traditional in their approach, a standard 442 formation, with attacks usually built on solid possession and from wide areas. This match in particular was set up in the same manor with Molde lining up with a counter attacking formation despite their home advantage. Much is expected of Molde’s front line, with a number of their attacking talent being under 21 years of age, Nigerian born Daniel Chima leading the line of this occasion. The home side’s confidence in front of their own fans has been paramount to their success, 14 wins and 1 loss in the past league season was head and shoulders better than their closest rivals, while they often struggled away from the Aker Stadium.

 

Molde's XI v Copenhagen (GW5)

In the end, the match bucked against the usual trend of the home side dominating as Copenhagen flexed their muscles, controlling possession and creating the early chances mainly through young striker Andreas Cornelius who has been particularly impressing domestically this year where Copenhagen are already 9 points clear at the top of the table. The early pressure took its toll on Molde, after the defending Chima was adjudged of pulling in the box while facing a Copenhagen corner. At first glance it seemed harsh, but on the replay it was clear that the centre forward only had eyes for the attacker who he clearly was pulled out of the play of the ball. The penalty was coolly slotted home by Cesar Santin, one of Copenhagen’s key cogs in their European heroics of yester year. Santin alongside fellow Brazilian midfielder Caludemir are the final stars left from the side who drew 0-0 against Barcelona in 2010, and despite losing the likes of N’Doye, Kvist and Gronkjaer from that team, the South Americans still cause a threat to opposition both domestically and in Europe.

Copenhagen's XI v Molde (GW5)

   The pressure was on Molde, and the managerial talent of Solskjaer, who bravely sacrificed his captain Daniel Hestad for the extra legs and creative talent of Etzaz Hussain in centre midfield. The change immediately worked for the home side as they poured forward at the beginning of the second half with greater control of possession, before forcing an equaliser through the previously culpable Chima, heading in from Magnus Eikrum’s free kick. The challenge continued, and but for some organised backs to wall defending, Copenhagen could have seen any sort of point total slip through their hands. Inevitably, the missed chances which fell to the Norwegians would come back to haunt them as the visitors broke away against the general run of play to score with a clinical finish from winger Runk Gislason after more good work from the impressive Santin. Their experience was there for all to see, as Molde piled forward once again, Copenhagen would happily play on the counter to save the three points and threaten a back four by this time was all over the place.

Neither side are the finished article and it showed, Molde are a young side with a young manager playing exciting attacking football, but at times can be too naïve when flooding forward. Copenhagen are rebuilding after their golden age dispersed, the quality of Santin and Claudemir are still there, and with a host of young attacking talent in Delaney, Cornelius and Jorgenson they are likely to return to the Champions League group stages next term. After a disappointing start, Copenhagen are within a two goal victory of making it through to the knockout stages of another European competition and potentially further success in this tournament. The challenges from Nordsjaelland domestically and now Molde in Europe have in the end put up little of a fight to anyone claiming that Denmark’s prized team aren’t still the kings of the region.