Malmo and FC Iberia 1999 will reconvene for the second leg of their Champions League first round qualifier on Tuesday evening.
The Swedish giants have taken control of this tie following a 3-1 victory in Georgia last midweek.
That triumph has also put Malmo one step closer to reaching the group stage of the competition for the first time since 2021–22.
Henrik Rydstrom’s have since kept the feelgood factor flowing by claiming a 3-1 win over IFK Norrkoping in the Swedish Allsvenskan on Saturday.
As for FC Iberia, they are participating in Champions League qualification for just the second time in their history, having previously come up short back in 2019-20.
Now heading to the Eleda Stadion faced with a 3-1 deficit, Levan Korgalidze’s men will have to pull off a rescue mission if they are to avoid another early exit during the preliminary stages of the competition.
How the bookies view it: Malmo to march on
Following last week’s 3-1 win in Tbilisi, it’s no surprise to see Malmo as short priced 1/4 favourites on Boylesports.
FC Iberia 1999 are in must win territory but the bookmakers’ odds suggest that they will suffer the same fate as they did last midweek, with an away win trading at 7/1 on Boylesports, while the draw is an unfancied 15/4 with the same firm.
Head to head: Pair set for second meeting
Malmo and FC Iberia 1999 came up against each other for the first time ever at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium last week. What's more, that was Malmo’s maiden clash with a Georgian side, and likewise FC Iberia’s first encounter with Swedish opposition.
Players to watch: Thelin to fire?
Isaac Thelin will be aiming to add to the eight goals that he has scored in all competitions this season. It’s worth noting that each of those eight goals have come at home, so the experienced striker could merit anytime goalscorer consideration here once prices become available.
With 10 goals to his name across all competitions this season, FC Iberia 199 will look to talismanic forward Iuri Tabatadze for inspiration on Tuesday evening.
Predicted line-ups
As was the case last midweek, Malmo will once again be unable to call upon the services of long-term injured trio Erik Botheim, Johan Dahlin and Stefano Holmquist.
After being afforded the weekend off by the Georgian FA, FC Iberia 1999 have as close to a clean bill of health as possible ahead of this week’s return match in Scandinavia.
Malmo: Ellborg; Karlsson, Stryger, Zatterstrom, Busanello; Ali, Rosengren, Johnsen, Bolin; Berg, Kiese Thelin
FC Iberia 1999: Megrelishvili; Gelashvili, G. Tabatadze, Jgierenaya, Agyakwa; Kardava, Silagadze, I. Tabatadze, Mamageishvili, Dadiani; Sikharulidze
Anything else catch the eye?
Given the visitors' need to go for the jugular on Tuesday evening, backing both teams to score stands out at a value 10/11 on Boylesports.
Not only did this bet pay out in the Georgian capital last week, it would have also proven profitable in two of Malmo’s last three outings in the Swedish top flight.
On a similar line of thought to the above, the 13/10 on Boylesports for both teams to strike alongside Over 2.5 Goals also looks like an eye-catching option for this week’s second leg showdown at the Eleda Stadion.
GambleAware