An own goal by SK Sturm Graz goalkeeper Oliver Christensen and a late strike from Ousmane Diao proved enough for Midtjylland to win their first match of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League (UEL) phase campaign, with the final 2-0 scoreline marking the Danes’ first matchday one success in this competition for a decade.
Sturm Graz suffered a 2-0 defeat last time they visited Herning in the 2022/23 Europa League campaign, and they looked headed for another disappointment against Mike Tullberg's men, when the home side took the lead already after nine minutes. Sturm's Danish keeper, Oliver Christensen, failed to clear a corner and spilled the ball into his own net.
The beginning of the match saw lots of man-to-man duels and very physical challenges as both teams attempted to assert their dominance in the match. That resulted in plenty of free kicks for both sides and many stoppages in the game, with two teams who struggled to create any rhythm in the game.
The visitors did, however, get a superb opportunity to restore parity after 30 minutes, when Kevin Mbabu stumbled to leave Sturm-striker Maurice Malone face to face with Midtjylland-keeper Elias Olafsson, who produced a strong reflex save to preserve the lead for the Danes.
A little later, Olafsson was called into action when Tochi Chukwuani finished off a well-orchestrated Austrian attack, but Olafsson was on hand to deny the visitors once again.
After an hour, FC Midtjylland thought they had doubled the lead when Juníor Brumado rose high to head home a cross, but after a thorough VAR check, the goal was ruled offside.
With 15 minutes left, the visitors nearly equalized when the ball fell at the feet of Timo Horvat inside the box, but Mads Bech Sorensen saved the home side with a well-timed tackle.
Shortly before the end Ousmane Diao doubled the lead when he headed home a cross from Aral Simsir in a situation where Oliver Christensen also should have done better.