Malmo FF vs Olympiacos Piraeus prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-23 19:00.
[p]Eight points clear and cruising at the Allsvenskan summit with three rounds to go, Malmö stand on the brink of winning a fourth Swedish top-flight title in five seasons. They couldâve wrapped up the title by now had they not drawn their last two league games 1-1, but for now their attention must switch to the UEFA Europa League (UEL), where theyâve managed three points from their opening two league phase fixtures (W1, L1). [/p]
[p]The fact theyâve managed so many is a minor miracle in itself, as their matchday two victory over QarabaÄ ended a run of nine successive UEL defeats in the main draw. Thereâs still the small matter of ending their five-match losing home run in such matches, but the most concerning aspect about those defeats will be the fact they all came âto nilâ.[/p]
[p]Olympiacos are the next side to try and heap more misery on the Swedish champions in waiting, and interestingly, theyâve matched Malmöâs feat of drawing their last two domestic games. As a result, theyâre two points off the pace in the Greek Super League, but theyâll park their quest for a first league title since 2021/22 as they resume a UEL campaign in which like their hosts, they have three points after two games.[/p]
[p]Ominously for the 47-time Greek champions, their last three UEL away games ended in defeats âto nilâ, albeit against much sterner-looking opposition than theyâll face here. Visits to Sweden have proved similarly fruitless for Olympiacos though, as on both occasions theyâve visited the Scandinavian nation, theyâve left empty handed without even scoring a goal![/p]
[p]Players to watch: Erik Botheim has scored three of Malmöâs last four goals and him getting on the scoresheet is usually a good omen, as 22 of his last 25 scoring club appearances ended in victory (D3). Santiago Hezze was on target for Olympiacos against Braga on matchday two, but heâs been shown a yellow card in both of their league phase games, leaving him one away from suspension. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Olympiacosâ last six UEL games have all been won by the home side on the day. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]