Union Berlin vs Malmo FF prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-12 19:00.
Having lost their first Bundesliga game of the season a little over a week ago, Union Berlin bounced back in fine fashion with a pair of 1-0 away victories. Victory over Stuttgart at the weekend was enough to cement their place at the top of the Bundesliga (W6, D2, L1), though in contrast the other victory in the duo came against Malmö and is Union’s only UEFA Europa League (UEL) group victory this term (L2).
With the two sides above Union in UEL Group D playing each other, this is a massive opportunity for Union to close the gap on at least one of their top-two rivals ahead of two huge showdowns against Braga and Royale Union. One win in their last five European home games (D2, L2) certainly doesn’t inspire much confidence of bridging that gap, while three 1-0 score lines so far in their UEL campaign (W1, L2) hints towards a cagey affair.
With three defeats from three in Group D so far, the game’s almost up for Malmö who know defeat here all-but consigns them to bottom spot in the group for a fourth European group stage campaign running. With the others coming in the UEFA Champions League, that makes a bottom-place UEL group finish all the more humbling for the 22-time Swedish champions, whose Allsvenskan title defence is also in tatters as they are nine points off the pace.
A 0-0 domestic draw against Värnamo over the weekend only served to rub salt in the wounds in that sense, leaving Malmö without a goal across their last three matches (D2, L1). With just one win in their last nine European away matches (D2, L6), it’s hard to see things getting much better for Malmö on the road and a winless record on German soil (D2 L4) only serves to add insult to injury.
Players to watch: Union’s Sheraldo Becker struck the winner in the reverse H2H and he has been Union’s last/only scorer in four of his previous five scoring appearances. With a goal and three assists across their UEL journey this term, Malmö may look to Joseph Ceesay to end their goal drought.
Hot streak: None of Union’s last seven games have seen both teams score.