Copenhagen scouted: their style, strengths and weaknesses

Ahead of a huge game for Killie on Thursday, here's what to expect from the Danes

On Thursday night Kilmarnock face what could be the last of a series of memorable European jaunts - you’d have absolutely taken Bruges, Tromsø and Copenhagen when fourth place was secured - or the first step to bringing European football to Rugby Park up to Christmas.

As we’ve outlined before, qualification for the league phase would be a huge financial boost for the club as well as giving fans the chance to dream of further adventures - Florence, Istanbul, Budapest.

Standing in the way though are serial Danish champions FC Copenhagen, a side more accustomed to the Champions League than the Conference League.

The bookies have Derek McInnes’ side at around 5/1 to qualify, and a heavy defeat in Denmark on Thursday would kill the tie before Rugby Park gets to have its say.

Is there any chance of making it through?

We watched both legs of Copenhagen’s last tie against Baník Ostrava, and the league draw with Randers, to get an idea of what to expect.

The Club

Only founded in 1992 as a merger of Kjøbenhavns Boldklub and Boldklubben 1903, they’ve gone on to win the Danish top flight 15 times.

Coach Jacob Neestrup is just 36, having stepped up from the assistant role in 2022.

They reached the Champions League knockout phase last year after coming through a group with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Galatasaray.

They were beaten 6-2 on aggregate by Manchester City, losing both legs 3-1.

Formation and style of play

The Danes generally line up in a 4-3-3 system which becomes a 4-5-1 off the ball.

There are some familiar names in the attacking trident we can expect to start on Thursday evening.

Scottish football fans will remember Moi Elyounoussi from his two seasons on loan at Celtic, while Jordan Larsson, son of Hoops legend Henrik, will probably start on the right.

The pair will flank 19-year-old Icelandic striker Orri Óskarsson, with Danish international Andreas Cornelius out injured.

There’s plenty of experience in midfield in the shape of Rasmus Falk, who has played over 300 games for Copenhagen, and his fellow Danish international Thomas Delaney who returned to the club this summer.

At the back Slovak international Denis Vavro had a brief spell in Serie A with Lazio, while Dutchman Kevin Diks has also briefly featured in Italy’s top flight.

In terms of style, Copenhagen will generally look to build out from the back, the back four spreading wide to cover as much of the pitch as possible.

They can occasionally look shaky when pressed though, as Randers found in their 1-1 league draw before they went down to 10 men.

In the below example, goalkeeper Nathan Trott is attempting to start the play from the back but, after passing out to right-back and receiving the ball back, quickly finds himself under pressure and ultimately passes it straight to a Randers midfielder.

While it would have to be considered unlikely, to say the least, that McInnes game plan for the away leg will be based around a high press, the Danes can be unsettled by such a tactic and it may be something Killie look to use on occasion.

In terms of their own press, expect Magnus Mattson, number 8, to push forward when the goalkeeper has possession to form more of a 4-2-3-1 with Elyounoussi and Larsson.

Like Tromsø, FC Copenhagen are not particularly quick in possession, preferring to build methodically from the back.

Their key attacking outlet is down the left, with Elyounoussi coming inside onto his stronger right foot and fellow Norwegian international Birger Meling overlapping.

Meling can be dangerous on crosses and cutbacks, something Killie will have to be aware of as they also try to keep Elyounoussi quiet.

Key men