Spring preview: Brøndby within touching distance

Who can catch Brøndby IF? This remains the pertinent question as the the Danish Superligaen resumes on 3 March. Going into the second half of the season with a ten-point lead over rivals FC København, Aage Hareide's team will be keen to restore their credentials after Aalborg BK, Herfølge BK and København all claimed the championship during the past three years. 
 
Brøndby set to capture title
Brøndby's training camp in Cadiz, Spain has given no answers as to the current form of the league leaders in Denmark, but it seems as if only a miracle can prevent them from capturing their fourth title in the last seven years. Brøndby, who were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the third round by Parma AC, could be somewhat unsettled by the fact that Hareide has announced that he will be leaving the club this summer, but they should have plenty of experience in their side to prevent them from throwing away such a big lead at the top of the table. 
 
Fragile København
At the same time, København appear to have lost the form that they displayed before the winter break and coach Hans Backe has plenty of work to do following playmaker Christian Poulsen's departure to BV Borussia Dortmund. Not only that, but there are  doubts as to whether former Norwegian international Erik Mykland, who has been purchased from TSV 1860 München, will be able to fill Poulsen's shoes. On a positive note, København appear to have tightened up their defence with the double purchase of Martin Albrechtsen and Bora Zivkovic. However, in attack the club looks somewhat less stable following the departure of Heine Fernandez to Akademisk Boldklub which leaves South African international Sibusiso Zuma and Peter Møller leading the line.
 
Akademisk's defensive problems
Akademisk, Aalborg and newcomers Esbjerg fB will all head into the second part of the season knowing that a good run of form could see them capture a UEFA Cup spot. Akademisk, heavily in debt despite their flotation on the stock market, could be heading for a tough spring due to the departure of key defenders Steven Lüstü, who has moved on to Norway and Martin Albrechtsen. The club have instead added København's Fernandez and Diego Tur to their squad, but they do not seem as solid as Aalborg who in stark contrast look lethal in attack thanks to the return of former Danish internationals Erik Bo Andersen and Mikkel Beck.
 
Beck is back
Beck, currently on loan from Lille OSC, will no doubt aim to use his stay in Denmark to get back into the Danish national squad like he did two years ago when ten goals in eleven matches prompted Bo Johansson to include him in Denmark's EURO 2000™ squad. 
 
Vejle locked in relegation battle
Similarly, Jesper Christiansen will use his return to the Superligaen to make a late bid to be included in Morten Olsen's 2002 FIFA World Cup squad. Christiansen is back with Vejle BK following a disappointing spell in the Scottish Premier League with Rangers FC and will hope that his presence, along with new purchases Tommy Schram and Christian Høgni Jacobsen, will inspire Vejle to move clear of the relegation zone where they are currently placed alongside Lyngby FC.
 
Lyngby pray for miracle
Lyngby can only pray that they will not be playing in the first division next season. The club declared themselves bankrupt in November and were subsequently forced to play the rest of the season with a side made up of amateur players. Things are not looking quite so bleak for Jutland giants Silkeborg IFand AGF Århus, but both who could still find the going tough with no new players having been added to their squads, while Odense BK, FC Midtjyll andand Viborg FFare all expected to keep their mid-table positions.