Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
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Malmo FF and PAOK FC will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round this week. The first leg of the tie between the Allsvenskan club and the Super League Greece team will be held at the Eleda Stadion in Malmo and is scheduled to kick off at 6 pm UK time on Tuesday.
Malmo FF
Malmo FF are one of the biggest, most successful and most well-known clubs in Sweden. Di blåe have won the Swedish championship a record 23 times and the national cup as many as 16 times. They are also used to playing in top European competitions.
Henrik Rydström’s side became the champions of Sweden last season. Malmo clinched the 2023 Allsvenskan title after picking up 64 points from 30 matches. IF Elfsborg also ended up with the same number of points, but they had an inferior goal difference.
Malmo are already in domestic league action. Himmelsblått are at the top of the Allsvenskan table at the moment with 38 points from 17 matches, three points ahead of second-placed Djurgårdens IF.
Team News:
Malmo are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Friedrich will be in goal for the home team and will have Larsen, Jansson, Olsson and Busanello ahead of him in defence. Johnsen, Pena will be the two holding midfielders. Bolin, Christiansen and Rieks will be in attacking midfield. Botheim will lead the line for Malmo.
PAOK FC
PAOK FC are one of the most well-known clubs in Greece who have been hugely successful in the past and are a very relevant team in modern times. Dikefalos tou Vorra have won the Greek top flight title four times and have featured in the UEFA Europa League on seven occasions. They have not played in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League yet, though.
Răzvan Lucescu’s side won the 2023–24 Super League Greece title. PAOK FC picked up 60 points from 26 games and finished a point above AEK Athens, who ended up second. They will be keen on winning the title yet again this season.
PAOK FC beat Borac Banja Luka over two legs in their last UEFA Champions League qualifying round. They won the first leg 3-2 at home and won the second leg 1-0 on the road.
Team News:
PAOK FC are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Kotarski will be in goal for the visiting team. Otto, Troost-Ekong, Koulierakis and Baba will be the four defenders. Schwab and Ozdoev will be the two holding midfielders. Despodov, Murg, Taison are likely to be deployed as the three playmakers. Thomas will lead the line for PAOK FC,
Key Factors to Consider
Malmo FF have won 3 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
Malmo FF have lost 3 of their last 6 matches in competitions.
Malmo FF have won 1 and lost 1 of their last 2 UEFA Champions League qualifying games.
PAOK FC have won their last two UEFA Champions League qualifying games.
PAOK FC have scored 4 goals in their last two matches.
Conclusion
Both Malmo FF and PAOK FC are good teams and are major clubs in their respective countries. The tie is going to be fiercely competitive. Playing at home will give Malmo FF an advantage in the first leg, but PAOK FC are unlikely to lose. It is very likely that the match will end in a draw.
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
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