Royale Union SG vs Malmo FF prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-14 19:00.
After securing their first ever UEFA group stage triumph with a Europa League (UEL) victory away to Bundesliga top dogs Union Berlin last week, Royale Union SG manager Karel Geraerts previewed their weekend defeat to 2021/22 UEL participants Genk (L 1-2) as “simply another European match” given the stature of the opposition. Now off to their equal-worst eight-game start to any league in five years, Union might view European competition as a welcome distraction whilst also providing an opportunity to discover some form.
The loss to Genk was their second defeat from their last three starts as favourites in all competitions, with an under pressure Geraerts putting it down to unprecedented fatigue from their maiden group stage berth: “We didn't deserve this defeat, but we will build on this performance." Having already subjected nine players to three starts in eight days, the first-time coach may have to draw upon reinforcements to ensure a refreshed performance.
The second Malmö stint of Åge Hareide, whose predecessor Miloš Milojević was dismissed following a Champions League (UCL) qualification failure against Žalgiris Vilnius, began with a 2-0 home loss to Braga that took their recent UEFA group stage record to six losses-to-nil from their last seven group stage games (D1) after last season’s UCL flop.
It’s worth mentioning that the four-time UEL group stage participants lost their opening match on the way to winning Group B in 2019/20 (W3, D2, L1), which is plenty of reason for Hareide and his players not to panic. A small slice of history will be required if Malmö are to match or beat that effort from three seasons ago, as the Swedish club have never defeated a Belgian opponent in any country (D3, L3) dating back to a meeting with Anderlecht in 1987/88.
Players to watch: All three of Teddy Teuma’s competitive goal scoring appearances this season saw him register Union’s first goal of the match. Similarly, Moustafa Zeidan has recorded Malmö’s opening goal in three games across all tournaments since the beginning of July.
Hot streak: Union’s last nine matches in all competitions have seen the match winner also lead at half-time.