We have reached the second leg of the second qualifying round for the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League.
There are some fantastic games to look forward to this week including the meeting between HJK and Malmö at the Bolt Arena in Helsinki. This is an interesting fixture as both teams currently lead their respective leagues at the time of writing.
However, it is the Swedish club who come into this match with the advantage having won the first leg 2-1.
Tack för den fina inramningen ikväll! pic.twitter.com/cpCRhdosgP— Malmö FF (@Malmo_FF) July 21, 2021
Tack för den fina inramningen ikväll! pic.twitter.com/cpCRhdosgP
HJK played Haka at home in the Finnish Veikkausliiga on the weekend and recorded a 2-0 victory. HJK open the scoring after only two minutes of the match and added a second goal 25 minutes later to take maximum points. It was an important victory for HJK as they lost their previous two fixtures.
The first defeat came in the Veikkausliiga away against Oulu and HJK lost the game 2-1. HJK lost the first leg of this Champions League tie in Malmö by the same scoreline. HJK went 1-0 down just before half-time but came back well in the second half to score the equalising goal in the 68th minute. However, HJK could not hold on and Malmö scored the winning goal 7 minutes later.
HJK have a strong recent home record in Champions League qualifying and they have won each of their last 3 home fixtures in the competition, including a good 2-1 win over Red Star Belgrade in 2019.
Malmö come into the game having recorded a 2-0 win at Mjällby in the Swedish Allsvenskan on the weekend. Both goals came within a three minute spell in the second half and the result means Malmö top the table at the end of the weekend round of fixtures.
Malmö are on a good run of form and they are undefeated in each of their last 6 matches in all competitions. There have been 5 victories in those 6 games including a 1-0 home victory over Riga in the first qualifying round of the Champions league. However, the only fixture Malmö have failed to win in those 6 games is the away leg against Riga and the Swedes were held to a 1-1 draw.
Malmö have a decent away record in Champions League qualifying and they are undefeated in each of their last 4 matches on the road. They have seen under 2.5 goals in each of their last 3 away Champions League games.
Team news and HJK are likely to go with the same starting XI that recorded a thumping 4-0 win at Buducnost in the first round. That means Roope Riski and Atomu Tanaka will lead the attack.
Malmö cannot call upon the experienced striker Ola Toivonen, who is out with a knee injury. Erdal Rakip and Bonke Innocent are suspended for domestic action but will be available for this match.
Both teams should find the back of the net in this game but Malmö could once again have a bit too much for their opponents.
We expect to see the Swedes come away with a narrow victory and progress to the third round.