Malmo vs Sivasspor

Malmo and Sivasspor are set to trade tackles at the Eleda Stadion in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie.

After a busted attempt to qualify for the Champions League group stages, courtesy of a 3-0 aggregate loss to Zalgiris (0-1 A, 0-2 H), Malmo crashed Dudelange out of the previous Europa League qualifying tie (3-0 H, 2-2 A) to get on the cusp of their first group stage appearance in the competition since 2019/20. The reigning Swedish champions boast a decent overall European record against Turkish sides (W4, D1, L1), netting an average of 1.66 goals per game. On top of that, Mauro Mayer’s men have won six of their seven competitive home outings this term (L1), noticeably scoring precisely three goals across each of the last five triumphs in such contests.

Meanwhile, despite an underwhelming 10th-place finish in Super Lig last season, Sivasspor’s historic success in the Turkish Cup means they could reach the Europa League group stages for the second time in the club’s history. Interestingly, none of Sivas’ eight Europa League matches, qualifiers to the group phase, have ended level (W2, L6), with the Turkish side failing to get on the scoresheet in half of those games. A lack of firepower up top continues to trouble Riza Çalımbay’s men this season, as they’ve netted just once in three competitive fixtures (D1, L2). Both those defeats came by 3+ goals ‘to nil,’ suggesting they are developing the habit of rolling over.