Prediction: Malmo vs Vikingur Reykjavik

Verdict: Home win by three or more goals

Best odds: 15/8

Bookmaker: Betfair

The summer break is already over for a lot of clubs, primarily for those embarking upon the mission of navigating through the Champions League qualifications. In the opening round of the process, Malmo will be playing host to Vikingur Reykjavik on Tuesday in the first leg of their clash at the Elada Stadion.

Malmo FF

In a highly intense Allsvenkan title race in 2021, Malmo edged out AIK on goal difference to lift the trophy, thus booking a place in the qualifications for the Champions League this summer.

Their campaign this term, however, isn’t going quite as well at the moment, but nothing is lost at this point. With 13 games played, they sit in fifth place with 21 points, only four off Hacken at the top, though the leaders have a game in hand on them, as do the teams directly around them – Hammarby (4th place, also 21 points), Kalmar FF (6th, 20) and Goteborg (7th, 20).

With three wins, one draw and a defeat from their last six matches in all competitions, Malmo aren’t exactly on a bad run of form, though they will admit it could’ve been better. They lost 2-1 away to Hacken, played a goalless draw against Hammarby in the Svenska Cupen final which they won on penalties, won 0-2 away to Degerfors, won 2-0 at home against Trelleborg, won 2-1 at home against Helsingborg, and eventually lost by the same scoreline away to GIF Sundsvall.

Team news

It’s uncertain if coach Milos Milojevic will be able to call upon forward Soren Rieks after the 35-year-old left the pitch in the first half of the defeat to GIF Sundsvall injured. Forward Adi Nalic and midfielder Oscar Lewicki are out, but captain Anders Christiansen has returned from injury, playing 54 minutes of the last match in the middle of the park.

A recent illness which hit striker Isac Thiese Khelin has left Malmo with an additional problem in the attacking department, and Patriot Sejdiu could come into the lineup because of it.

Vikingur Reykjavik

Vikingur Reykjavik emerged triumphant in the Urvalsdeid title race last year, finishing a point above Breidablik and will therefore have the chance, remote as it is, of appearing in UEFA’s elite club competition. Breidablik, however, lead the race this time around, with Vikingur trailing by immense nine points, even though Arnar Gunnlaugsson’s side have a game in hand on their rivals.

To get here, Vikingur had to dispose of Estonian club Levadia Tallin first, and then Inter Club d’Escaldes of Andorra, and they managed to get through the preliminary stage with relative ease. Their last-six run consists of a 2-1 home win over KA, a 0-3 win away to IBV, a 1-6 win over Levadia, a 0-1 triumph over Inter d’Escaldes, a 0-6 win away to Selfoss, and a 0-3 triumph away to city rivals KR Reykjavik. Six wins from six matches, though given the strength of the competition, that doesn’t mean much going into the clash against Malmo.

Team News

American defender Kyle McLagan is certain to miss this match after leaving the previous one with a suspected broken bone in his shoulder. Karl Gunnarsson, 20, is likely to step into the breach.

Striker Arnor Borg Gudjohnsen is also out as he is still recovering from an ankle injury. Kristall Mani Ignason will therefore probably continue his run in the team, having scored important goals in both rounds of the preliminary stage.

Conclusion

The bookies see Malmo as the absolute favourites to win this match, which is hardly surprising, with all due respect to the team from the Iceland capital. The Swedish side will likely seek to deal the decisive blow straight away with a convincing triumph, rather than allow any suspense ahead of the rematch on July 12th.

Verdict: Home win by three or more goals

Best odds: 15/8

Bookmaker: Betfair