Malmo-PAOK: Let the double-header come one step closer to the playoffs

Act one for him PAOK in his third qualifying round Champions League. The “bicephalus of the north” is hosted by Malme at “Elenda Stadium” for the first game between them (20:00, Novasports, bwinSPORT FM, www.sportfm.gr), wanting to take a step towards qualifying for the playoffs where they will face Sparta Prague or Steaua Bucharest.

THE PAOK comes from the two wins in the last round over her Banja Luka. The first came with force after defeating his opponent in Toumba 3-2, in a match that wasted opportunities for a bigger score but also had a problematic image in defense. At the same time, in the second leg in Bosnia, he put on a much more serious face, won more comfortably than the final 1-0 shows and doubled his victories. He needs to find a better balance between defense and attack, but also to control the tempo. Because against him, he has a team with enough games at their feet that likes to impose a fast pace and attack.

“It will be a difficult match. Malmö are born to attack and fill the opposing area with players. But it is not only the style of play but also how we will organize our game, we should confuse them. In football, the team that is focused, to manage the situations, will have faith, will get what they want. And we are talking about two matches and the match in Tuba will not be easy for Malmö”Lucescu said, among other things, at the press conference.

THE Malme, so she has already played 17 matches in her league. It appears in first place in the standings, i.e. at +3 from Djurgarden, but is coming off a two-game losing streak. The first came from Sirius at home with 1-0, while the second a few days ago in the rematch with Claxwick with 3-2. Of course, the second defeat was “sweet” since it had preceded the 4-1 against the team from the Faroe Islands, so it did not play any role in the case of qualification. He has scored 44 goals already in the league and conceded 16, while conceding goals in 8 of his last 9 games in all competitions! She has experience from Europe, she likes to give qualifiers and almost every year she participates in group stages.

“He has responded well to the training he has done. He can’t play 90 minutes but he can help us”Malmo coach Henrik Rydström said about Sead Haksabanovic returning to the team and possibly making his debut today!

Competitively now o Razvan Lucescu he has no problems to face, while it seems highly likely to give a starting shirt to Keziora and Živkovic for the first time in the new season. As for Malmo, Niklas Moisander, Anton Timmerholt, Stefano Vecchia and Oscar Levitsky are doubtful and may not play, while Cornelius has also recently dropped out.

Malmö (Henrik Rydström): Dahlin – Strieger Larsen, Jansson, Zatterström, Buzanello – Bolin, Jonsen, Peña, Nanassi – Bothheim, Tellin.

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Kotarski – Otto, Keziora, Koulierakis, Baba – Schwab, Kamara – Zivkovic, Murg, Tyson – Brandon.

Referee it will be the Scot, Joe Beeston, assisted by his compatriots, Daniel McFarlane, Douglas Potter, fourth Matthew McDermid, while VAR will be Steven McLean and Ewan Anderson.