Malmö host Ludogorets in this UEFA Europa League (UEL) battle between the reigning champions of Sweden and Bulgaria.
Match News and Current Form
Malmö’s European journey began in UEFA Champions League (UCL) qualifying two-and-a-half months ago, but they duly dropped down into the UEL play-off round, overcoming Czech side SK Sigma Olomouc to seal a place in the league phase. The 1979 European Cup finalists boast a proud pedigree, but their recent results in Europe’s secondary competition have been dismal, winning just one of their last 16 main-draw games (D2, L13). Their recent form has been more encouraging though, having suffered only one defeat in their last eight matches (W4, D3), but that loss did come last time out against Djurgården.
Ludogorets also dropped down from Europe’s premier cup competition, negotiating their way past North Macedonian side Shkëndija in their UEL play-off to claim a place in the main draw. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last four games (W2, D2), but have drawn the last two, and will hope that those results do not signal the start of a stutter in form. This is in light of their woeful performance in last season’s UEL league phase, in which they finished 33rd out of 36 teams, winning none of their eight matches (D4, L4). It will take something special to avoid a similar fate this time round and come anywhere close to replicating their best-ever run in this competition, when they reached the last 16 in 2013/14.
Head-to-Head History
This is the third meeting between the two clubs, after Malmö claimed a 3-2 aggregate victory in a UCL play-off tie four years ago. Ludogorets have a poor record overall against sides from Sweden, Denmark and Norway, winning only two of 10 such European ties (D3, L5).
Hot Stats and Streaks
The half-time result has been replicated at full-time in only one of Malmö’s last five games.
Malmö have won each of their last 12 home matches when scoring first.
There have been over 1.5 goals in six of Ludogorets’ last eight games.
Ludogorets have not won any of their last 16 UEL main-draw away matches (D6, L10).
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Sead Hakšabanović has netted four times in eight European games for Malmö this season, and each of his last 14 goalscoring appearances have resulted in victory. Petar Stanić has four goal contributions in his last seven Ludogorets matches (G2, A2), and six of his last seven goals have come after half-time.
Malmö’s list of absentees includes Erik Botheim, while Kwadwo Duah has not featured yet for Ludogorets this term.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
With both sides’ poor recent UEL record in mind, it could be worth backing a draw here.
Author: James Hilsum