Sweden’s Malmo will host Luxembourg’s F91 Dudelange in the first leg of their Europa League third round qualifying tie.
Malmo head into the match after being knocked out of the Champions League in the second qualifying round by Zalgiris Vilnius of Lithuania. The Swedes were beaten 3-0 on aggregate landing in the Europa League.
📈 Vi är förbi 9000 sålda biljetter till torsdagens viktiga kvalmatch.Tillsammans säkrar vi en plats i Europa i höst!— Malmö FF (@Malmo_FF) August 3, 2022
📈 Vi är förbi 9000 sålda biljetter till torsdagens viktiga kvalmatch.Tillsammans säkrar vi en plats i Europa i höst!
Dudelange were beaten 4-2 by Pyunik in the Champions League second qualifying round. After defeating KF Tirana in the first qualifying round, Dudelange crashed out versus the Armenians.
Now, both teams will be desperate to resurrect their European hopes by winning a qualifying series in the Europa League to progress to the playoff round.
While Malmo are in the middle of their Allsvenskan season, Dudelange are preparing for the domestic campaign in Luxembourg. F91 will start the Luxembourg National League on August 7. Thus far, they have played four matches in Europe, winning three and losing once.
Malmo are fifth in the Allsvenskan as they turn their attention to the Europa League. The Sky Blues are on a three-game winning streak on the domestic front and should go into the game with plenty of confidence.
Thursday’s Europa League match will be the first meeting between Malmo and Dudelange in competitive action. Dudelange are the underdog going into the game with Malmo.
Malmo recent parted ways with coach Milos Milojevic on July 29. In his place, Andreas Georgson has taken over as interim manager while Malmo search for a new coach. Milojevic’s departure likely had a lot to do with the Sky Blues’ inability to progress in Champions League qualifying.
Georgson is likely to be without Adi Nalic due to injury. Midfielder Mahame Siby is nursing a hip issue and is likely to miss the fixture as well.
Malmo did not play at the weekend in the Allsvenskan, giving Malmo the time to sack Milojevic and provide Georgson with time to train the squad.
Dudelange are managed by Portuguese coach Fangueiro. He has been in the job for two seasons. Against Pyunik, Fangueiro used a 3-4-1-2 formation.
F91 made several defensive signings in the transfer market with centre-backs Manuel Da Costa and Aldin Skenderovic joining the club. Defensive midfielder Bruno Freire and full-back Sylvio Ouassiero also joined. All four could start for Dudelange.
Although Malmo slipped up in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, the Swedes should do well in the Europa League qualifying. Malmo should post a 3-1 win against Dudelange as the Sky Blues get an upper hand in the first leg.