Brief Summary
The upcoming UEFA Champions League qualification match between Malmö FF and PAOK FC is set to take place on August 6, 2024, at 17:00 UTC at the Eleda Stadion in Malmo, Sweden. Both teams have had mixed performances in their recent matches and will be looking to advance to the next stage of the Champions League.
Match Information
Date and time: 2024-08-06 17:00 UTC
Referee: John Beaton (Scotland)
Stadium: Eleda Stadion
Location: Malmoe, Sweden
Recent Performances
Malmö FF
Malmö FF has had a mixed set of results recently with a few high-scoring wins but also some surprising losses:
– Against Klaksvik: 2-3 loss (away) and 4-1 win (home)
– Against Sirius: 0-1 loss (home) and 4-3 win (away)
– Against Mjaellby: 1-2 loss (away)
18+ Terms and Conditions apply.
Key Players:
– Erik Botheim (Forward, 20): Leading the line for Malmö.
– Anders Christiansen (Midfielder, 10): Key playmaker.
– Sören Rieks (Midfielder, 5): Adds experience and creativity.
PAOK FC
PAOK’s recent form has been similar to Malmö, with some wins but also losses in friendly matches:
– Against Borac Banja Luka: 1-0 win (away) and 3-2 win (home)
– Against Vitesse: 1-2 loss (away)
– Against Union St.Gilloise: 1-2 loss (home)
Key Players:
– Kiril Despodov (Midfielder, 77): Effective in the midfield.
– Taison (Midfielder, 11): Experienced and skillful.
– Brandon Thomas (Forward, 71): Dangerous in attack.
Formations
Malmö FF
Likely Formation: 4-2-3-1
– Goalkeeper: Ricardo Friedrich (1)
– Defenders: Jens Stryger Larsen (17), Pontus Jansson (18), Martin Olsson (13), Busanello (25)
– Midfielders: Sergio Peña (8), Lasse Berg Johnsen (23), Hugo Bolin (38), Anders Christiansen (10), Sören Rieks (5)
– Forward: Erik Botheim (20)
Strengths:
– A balanced attack with contributions from forwards and midfielders.
– Experienced defensive lineup.
PAOK FC
Likely Formation: 4-2-3-1
– Goalkeeper: Dominik Kotarski (42)
– Defenders: Jonny Otto (19), Konstantinos Koulierakis (4), William Troost-Ekong (15), Rahman Baba (21)
– Midfielders: Stefan Schwab (22), Magomed Ozdoev (27), Kiril Despodov (77), Thomas Murg (10), Taison (11)
– Forward: Brandon Thomas (71)
Strengths:
– Strong midfield control with players like Schwab and Ozdoev.
– Solid defensive setup with Troost-Ekong and Koulierakis.
Head-to-Head
There are no head-to-head records available for these teams in recent history.
Strengths and Considerations
Malmö FF:
– Home advantage with strong fan support.
– Potential vulnerability in defense as seen in recent losses to Sirius and Klaksvik.
PAOK FC:
– Strong midfield presence could dominate ball possession.
– Defensive solidity may be tested by Malmö’s forwards.
Prediction
Malmö FF 2 – 2 PAOK FC
Predicted Goal Scorers:
– Malmö FF: Erik Botheim, Anders Christiansen
– PAOK FC: Kiril Despodov, Brandon Thomas
Malmö’s home advantage might be nullified by PAOK’s strong midfield and recent away form. The match is likely to be evenly contested, resulting in a high-scoring draw due to both teams’ offensive capabilities and occasional defensive lapses.
18+ Terms and Conditions apply.