Sports Mole preview Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Malmö and Vikingur Reykjavík, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Malmo‘s aspiration to reach the 2022-23 Champions League The group stage begins with the first leg of their qualification in the first round Vikingur Reykjavik at Tuesday evening.
The Swedish champions are good at their home flow while the visitors were forced to navigate past FCI Levadia and Inter Club d’Escaldes to make it through to the first round.
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Defending their 2021 Allsvenskan title is proving a difficult proposition for Malmo, who will look to secure a confidence-inspiring result in Europe amid a difficult period in their home country.
Milos Milojewics’ side have ended up fifth in the embryonic top-flight standings with 21 from 39 points on offer so far, and the reigning champions were left frustrated after a 2-1 defeat by GIF Sundsvall on Friday night.
The loss to Sundsvall ended a three-game winning streak for Malmo in all tournaments, but they have never been eliminated from the first round of Champions League qualifying and made it through to the group stage last year before being quickly eliminated.
The 22-time national champions welcome Vikingur to the Eleda Stadion after scoring in all their home games so far this season, but the visitors have already had a taste of European football this season and have shown no mercy to their Estonian counterparts.
The Icelandic powerhouses are taking part in Champions League qualifiers for the first time in their history and were forced to get through the preliminary round, which started with a 6-1 win over Levadia before falling to fellow semi-final winners Inter Club d’Escaldes met
Arnar Gunnlaugsson925 spectators, the team would only need one goal, since Crystal Mani Ingason let the net ripple with 68 minutes left to push his side through, and wins came weekly for the visitors.
Vikingur were crowned Icelandic champions for the first time in 30 years in 2021, winning their sixth title overall. However, they are already nine points behind runaway leaders Breidablik in the 2022 standings.
However, the holders go into the first leg having won each of their last eight games in all competitions during a phenomenal green run – seven of which have come away – and they have also kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games.
Vikingur reached the first round of the Champions League in 1992/93 before losing to CSKA Moscow and a stint in Europa Conference League qualifying lies ahead should Gunnlaugsson fail to inspire his side to a memorable result against Malmö .
Malmö form (all competitions):
Vikingur Reykjavík Champions League form:
Vikingur Reykjavík form (all competitions):
Team News
Malmö coach Milovejic had to accept a serious injury as an attacker on Friday Soren Rieks lost to Sundsvall in the first half and it is unclear whether the 35-year-old will be available for the first leg.
captain Anders Christiansen was fit enough to play 54 minutes last time out after returning from a groin problem while Adi Nalic and Oscar Lewicki both stand on the sidelines.
striker Isaac Kiese Thelin is also struggling with a fever and is a doubt for the competition that could see Patriot Sejdiu come for the plagued Rieks on the left side of the attack unless Malik Abubakari carries the line Veljko Birmancevic Switch to a broad role.
As for Vikingur, American defender Kyle McLagan was withdrawn in the first half of his last league game – a 3-0 win over KR – with a suspected fracture in his shoulder and will certainly sit out this game.
Gunnlaugsson could therefore fall back on the 20-year-old Karl Gunnarson to fill the gap in defense, and forward Arnor Borg Gudjohnsen is still recovering from ankle surgery, giving Ignason an opportunity to repeat his pre-stage exploits.
Malmo possible starting line-up:
dahlin; Larsson, Nielsen, Chalus, Knudsen; Christiansen, Rakip, Pena; Berget, Abubakari, Birmancevic
Vikingur Reykjavík possible starting line-up:
T.Ingason; Atlason, Gunnarsson, Ekroth, Sigurdsson; Punyed, Magnusson; Agnarsson, Ingason, Andrason; Hansen
We say: Malmö – Vikingur Reykjavík 3:1
Vikingur have done everything in their power to record victory after victory leading up to this game, but Malmo’s larger European pedigree will surely be evident on their own turf.
Milojevic’s squad is somewhat weakened by injuries and illness, but the Swedish champions will expect to have a solid footing in the second round regardless.
For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, goal scores and more for this game, please click here.
top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com predict under 3.5 goals in this game. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and for more of their football best tips.Under 3.5:Data