Besiktas vs Malmo FF prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-11-05 15:30.
[p]Wednesday’s European action kicks off with the only UEFA Europa League (UEL) encounter of the day as Beşiktaş look to bounce back from consecutive domestic defeats to begin their European climb. Losing 3-1 to Kasımpaşa here in Istanbul last time out was tough to take for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men, although with their last win coming against Lyon, Beşiktaş have the opportunity to record consecutive UEL proper wins in the same season for the first time since 2016/17. [/p]
[p]A meeting with Malmö isn’t guaranteed to bring further success, as despite holding hot favouritism, the hosts have won just one of the six historical H2Hs (W1, D1, L4). In fact, Beşiktaş’ sole victory in this fixture was followed by two H2H defeats without reply, which is curiously the same outcome as the UEL game following each of their last four victories in the competition, the last two of which ended in 4-0 defeats. [/p]
[p]Arriving here after an inconsequential draw in the penultimate Allsvenskan round, confirmed Swedish champions Malmö can place their focus on climbing the UEL table after a slow start (W1, L2). Whilst that may be true, one victory is already an improvement on their previous UEL group stage appearance, which saw them lose every game on the way to elimination back in 2022/23.[/p]
[p]That was a European season which saw them secure a pair of two-goal margin wins against Turkish club Sivasspor in the qualifying rounds, part of their dominant overall record against Turkish opposition(W6, D1, L1). Such a return belies Malmö’s outsider status, but it may be wise to take those odds with a pinch of salt as the Swedish side travel having avoided defeat in the majority of their last ten UEL trips from qualifying onwards (W4, D2, L4). [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Beşiktaş’ Gedson Fernandes has already eclipsed his combined return across the previous two seasons with his seventh goal of the season in the last UEL round, with that goal being his third straight team opener. Taha Ali has been involved in each of Malmö’s last four goals across the previous two games (G1, A3), helping his side secure back-to-back domestic championships in the process. [/p]
[p]Hot streak: Beşiktaş are without a clean sheet across their last nine UEL home games.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]