Malmo FF vs FC Twente Prediction

Thursday’s Europa League action sees table neighbours Malmo and Twente clash in a huge game for both sides' hopes of qualification for the next round.

For whichever side comes away as the winner, they will have mathematically forced their fate to be decided in the set of fixtures next week, and should either Malmo or Twente win both of their last two fixtures, then they have given themselves a great chance of reaching the play-off round.

Currently, Twente lie 30th on four points, with Malmo sitting right below them on the same total. With the two sides so closely matched across their six Europa League fixtures so far, this promises to be a fascinating game for the neutral.

As the high-stakes game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Key Statistics

• Malmo are currently in their off-season period, with the domestic league being played out across the calendar year instead of August to May.
• However, they are still threats, proven last season by winning the Allsvenskan by nine points, with second placed Hammarby rarely threatening.
• FC Twente have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six games, and have just two since November.
• However, their seven goals conceded is the best of any side in the bottom 15 teams, and they will hope to capitalise on that against a rusty Malmo side.

Malmo FF Preview

Malmo FF Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Joakim Persson (GK); Busanello, Nils Zatterstrom, Colin Rosler, Jens Stryger Larsen; Lasse Borg Johnsen, Otto Rosengren; Hugo Bolin, Anders Christiansen, Soren Rieks; Erik Botheim.

Given they have scored more goals than Twente in the competition against arguably harder opposition, many would have considered Malmo as favourites coming into this if they were in the middle of their domestic season like the majority of their opponents.

However, they will be rusty and lacking match sharpness for this game, and although they have played two friendly games in the last fortnight, there is no substitute for a competitive 90 mins with position and points on the line.

They have an exciting young squad, including 19-year-old Zatterstrom and 21-year-old Hugo Bolin, but their lack of competitive minutes will catch up to the Swedish side here.

FC Twente Preview

FC Twente Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lars Unnerstall (GK); Anass Salah-Eddine, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Bart van Rooij; Michal Sadilek, Mathias Kjolo; Michel Vlap, Sem Steijn, Daan Rots; Ricky Van Wolfswinkel.

While Twente have been perhaps slightly less impressive throughout their Europa League campaign, they have crucially been playing competitive games week in and week out, with the Dutch domestic campaign in full swing.

Sitting fifth in the Eredivisie, it has been a passable league campaign so far, with form being inconsistent for the most part. However, an impressive goal scoring record has kept the points ticking over nicely.

Now it is about bringing that sharpness in front of goal to Europa League in order to save their campaign. They netted just four times in the competition so far, and are yet to pick up a win, but they have a chance to change all that against a rested Malmo.

Malmo FF vs FC Twente Head to Head

This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides, having never been drawn in the same group in previous years of the competition.

Malmo FF vs FC Twente Betting Tip

While neither team has been particularly prolific in the Europa League this season, both sides have something going in their favour.

Twente are playing against a Malmo side that have barely played in two months, and Malmo have bagged more goals than Twente across the competition this season. That being said, we are backing both teams to score.

Malmo FF vs FC Twente Final Prediction

Malmo 1-2 Twente

It will be a closely contested affair, in which the losing side will have chances to win, but we think that Twente’s superior match sharpness will see them through this one.