Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League clash between Malmo and Olympiacos, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Both aiming to earn their second wins of the revamped League Phase, Malmo and Olympiacos will clash at Eleda Stadion in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Sky Blues shared the spoils domestically last time out prior to this continental clash, and the same can be said of Thrylos from a four-goal thriller on the weekend.
Match preview
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Since their most recent fixture in the 2024-25 edition of the Europa League, Malmo have recorded back-to-back draws in their domestic league, sharing the spoils with Varnamo on October 6 before settling for a point at the home of strugglers Vasteras SK on Saturday afternoon.
The Sky Blues enjoyed a near-perfect start to the contest on the weekend when Erik Botheim fired the visitors ahead within the opening 20 minutes of the contest, however the hosts fought back in the second period for a point, with Pedro Ribeiro‘s efforts forcing a share of the points.
Despite faltering recently, Malmo are on the verge of being crowned as the champions of Sweden, with Thursday’s hosts in the Europa League sitting eight points clear at the top of the Swedish Allsvenskan standings with just three matches of the domestic campaign to go.
Focusing on continental matters, the Sky Blues lost their first game of the League Phase by two goals to Scottish giants Rangers on September 24 before earning a maiden victory of the campaign on October 3, when a brilliant brace from Botheim secured maximum points versus Qarabag FK.
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Olympiacos come into Thursday night’s clash in Sweden following one of the most impressive victories of the League Phase to date on October 3, when the Greek giants won 3-0 against Primeira Liga outfit Braga, a side who have been regularly competing in the Champions League in recent times.
No stranger to stepping up on the continental stage for numerous clubs throughout his colourful career, Ayoub El Kaabi netted a double for Thrylos on the night, whilst another strike from Argentinian midfielder Santiago Hezze made sure of the destination of the three points.
Since that exceptional performance versus Braga on gameweek two of the Europa League, Olympiacos have experienced consecutive stalemates in the Greek Super League, drawing 0-0 with fellow giants Panathinaikos on October 6 before playing out a four-goal thriller with Levadiakos on Sunday evening.
Efforts within the first 21 minutes from Chiquinho and Moroccan forward El Kaabi had Thrylos in a commanding position early on, however the division’s bottom side battled back valiantly for a point, with Alen Ozbolt and Giannis Gianniotas both breaching the net of the hosts.
Malmo Europa League form:
Malmo form (all competitions):
Olympiacos Europa League form:
Olympiacos form (all competitions):
Team News
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Malmo remain without the services of right-back Anton Tinnerholm, with the defender out of action since the beginning of May due to a serious groin injury.
Yet to feature in this calendar year, veteran Oscar Lewicki is fighting back from a cruciate ligament injury but could play some part in the League Phase during November.
Known on the British Isles for his spells at Celtic and Stoke City, Sead Haksabanovic is out of action for the Sky Blues due to a groin issue.
Olympiacos were dealt a major fitness blow earlier in the month in the form of former Chelsea and Arsenal winger Willian, who managed just three league matches before picking up a knock.
Despite conceding two goals at home to strugglers Levadiakos last time out, Thrylos should stick with a centre-back pairing of Andreas-Richardos Ntoi and David Carmo.
Malmo possible starting lineup:
Dahlin; Larsen, Rosler, Jansson, Busanello; Bolin, Johnsen, Berg, Christiansen; Thelin, Botheim
Olympiacos possible starting lineup:
Tzolakis; Costinha, Ntoi, Carmo, Ortega; Hezze, Mouzakitis, Rodinei, Chiquinho, Martins; El Kaabi
We say: Malmo 1-2 Olympiacos
With the Swedish title all but wrapped up, Malmo can pile their full focus onto Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Olympiacos at Eleda Stadion.
The Sky Blues have stuttered domestically over the past fortnight and we cannot imagine Thrylos returning to Greece without maximum points from this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.