Malmo and Union Berlin will both be fighting to put their first points of the Europa League campaign on the board when the meet on Thursday.
Both teams head into the contest having lost their opening two games in the competition, making the upcoming encounter a must-win game for either side.
After competing in the Champions League group stage last season, Malmo would have had high hopes of making an impact in the Europa League this time around, especially having retained the Swedish Allsvenskan title.
However, back-to-back defeats to Braga and Union Saint-Gilloise have left them without a point after two games in Group D, putting them under significant pressure to defeat Union Berlin on Thursday.
Following Milos Milejovic’s dismissal as head coach of the club, Age Hereide has been selected as his successor to take charge of Malmo for the second time after winning the domestic double with The Blue Ones in 2014, and he has improved their league form by at least guiding them to seven points from three games.
Despite suffering a 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend, Union Berlin remain top of the Bundesliga on goal difference after picking up 17 points from eight games.
However, things have not gone according to plan in just their second ever Europa League campaign so far, with two defeats to Union Saint-Gilloise and Braga leaving them level with Malmo on zero points.
Urs Fischer’s side often rely on fine margins to go their way in order to win matches and that has worked against them in Europe, with two 1-0 defeats showcasing how important it is for a team with their counter-attacking style to score the first goal in the game.
As such, Fischer will want his side to keep things tight on Thursday, as they cannot afford a third successive defeat.
Malmo vs Union Berlin head to head
These two teams have not previously met in any competition and this will be their first meeting in the Europa League group stages.
Malmo latest home form
Malmo have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just two of their seven most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Hammarby in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and also conceded five.
Malmo 3-1 Sivasspor 18/08/22
Malmo 0-1 Kalmar 28/08/22
Malmo 0-2 Sporting Braga 08/09/22
Malmo 2-1 Norrkoping 11/09/22
Malmo 0-0 Hammarby 01/10/22
Malmo latest away form
Malmo have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just two of their seven most recent matches. They managed to defeat Helsingborg 2-1 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 17 goals and conceded seven.
Sivasspor 0-2 Malmo 25/08/22
Bralanda 0-9 Malmo 31/08/22
Elfsborg 3-2 Malmo 04/09/22
Union Saint-Gilloise 3-2 Malmo 15/09/22
Helsingborg 1-2 malmo 18/09/22
Union Berlin latest home form
Union Berlin have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They managed too defeat Wolfsburg 2-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded four.
Union Berlin 1-1 Hannover 96 09/08/22
Union Berlin 2-1 RB Leipzig 20/08/22
Union Berlin 1-1 Bayern Munich 03/09/22
Union Berlin 0-1 Union Saint-Gilloise 08/09/22
Union Berlin 2-0 Wolfsburg 18/09/22
Union Berlin latest away form
Union Berlin have recently been on a downward turn of form on the road, having lost each of their two most recent matches. They lost 2-0 to Eintracht Frankfurt in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded four.
Mainz 0-0 Union Berlin 14/08/22
Schalke 04 1-6 Union Berlin 27/08/22
FC Cologne 0-1 Union Berlin 11/09/22
Sporting Braga 1-0 Union Berlin 15/09/22
Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 Union Berlin 01/10/22
Malmo news
Malmo are without Adi Nalic and Niklas Moisander for the foreseeable future due to serious ACL injuries, while Mahame Siby and Sergio Pena are doubtful for this contest due to knocks.
Former Ipswich Town full-back Jonas Knudsen and former Blackburn Rovers winger Martin Olsson are likely to combine down the left flank.
Union Berlin news
Union Berlin are expected to travel without Kevin Mohwald through a muscle injury and Julian Ryerson with a cold, while Sven Michel is still suspended.
The duo of Robin Knoche and Andras Schafer will be hoping for some involvement having been named on the bench for the weekend’s defeat to Entracht Frankfurt.
Prediction and Odds
Both teams need to win this game to stand a realistic chance of progressing to the knockout rounds, and we expect an entertaining affair as a result.
However, there is little doubt that Union Berlin possess greater individual quality, which should help them claim their first victory of their European campaign.
Odds: 1 2.33 X 2.05 2 2.18
Probable outcomes
Malmo 0-1 Union Berlin
Malmo 0-2 Union Berlin
Malmo 1-2 Union Berlin
Malmo 0-3 Union Berlin
Malmo 1-3 Union Berlin
