Malmo FF (Swe) vs Sparta Prague (Cze) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-08-20 19:00.
[p]Malmö were minutes away from exiting the UEFA Champions League (UCL) third qualifying round, before a 97th minute equaliser and an extra-time winner against PAOK sealed their progress to this play-off round (W 4-3). This is their fifth appearance at this stage of the UCL, and they’re looking to continue a run of qualifying for the competition proper the last three times they made it this far.[/p]
[p]While that bodes well for the reigning Swedish champions and current Allsvenskan leaders against Sparta Prague, their overall record against Czech clubs is poor (W1, L3). But with an even H2H record (W1, L1) another intense battle could be on the cards as Malmö’s two UCL ties this term produced 21 goals – nine of them in the home legs.[/p]
[p]Sparta have found UCL qualification tough of late, as they are aiming for their first appearance in the UCL main draw since 2005/06. After going 3-0 up against FCSB before half-time, they held on to win the second leg 3-2 (4-3 on aggregate) to book their play-off berth, and are now on a nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions this term (W8, D1) following Saturday’s 2-1 league win at Jablonec.[/p]
[p]But Sparta don’t have happy memories of Sweden, as last time they headed to Malmö, they lost 2-0 in the 2014/15 UCL third qualifying round to exit on away goals. Their current three-match unbeaten run (W2, D1) in UCL qualifying away games is more encouraging though, and a good start could be important as all three of those fixtures saw the half-time result replicated at full-time.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Anders Christiansen netted Malmö’s winner against PAOK, as well as their opener against Norrköping on Saturday – each of his last nine goalscoring appearances came in games featuring over 2.5 goals. A clear threat before half-time, Sparta’s Lukáš HaraslĂn has netted in the 37th or 38th minute in both of their last two competitive fixtures.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: There were goals in both halves of each of Malmö’s last five UCL home fixtures (W2, D2, L1).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]