Malmo vs Sparta Praha Prediction: Malmo can land a telling blow

Malmo host Sparta Praha in the first-leg of a Champions League playoff on Wednesday night, with the winner of the tie progressing to the league phase of the competition. 

Malmo have seen off Ki Klaksvik and PAOK Salonika to reach this play-off stage of the competition, while Sparta have got the better of Shamrock Rovers and Steaua Bucharest to keep their hopes alive. Read on for my Malmo vs Sparta Praha prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Stefano Vecchia, Niklas Moisander and Anton Tinnerholm are out for the home side, who are already over halfway through their domestic season in Sweden.

Meanwhile, summer signing Imanol Garcia de Albeniz is unlikely to feature on Wednesday night and the former Athletic man is likely to be a big miss for Sparta Prague

Malmo vs Sparta Praha Odds

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Malmo are 6/5 shots to take a lead into the second leg, while Sparta Prague are 2/1 to win in Sweden. The draw at Eleda Stadion is available at 12/5.

Malmo to win @ 6/5

Malmo are nine points clear at the top of the Swedish top flight and the free-scoring Blue Ones look a nice bet at home to beat Sparta Prague in the first-leg of their Champions League playoff.

Of course, European competition will demand more of Henrik Rydstrom’s men, but Malmo beat a good PAOK Salonika in the third-round of this competition, while they hit four goals in the Greek second-leg of that tie and it’s hard to ignore the firepower of the Swedes.

Malmo have scored 12 goals in their four Champions League matches this season, and while the Blue Ones are stepping up in class each time they progress in Europe, their style and forward-thinking approach will not alter.

Sparta Prague got the better of Steaua Bucharest to reach the playoffs, but the Czech side were fortunate to win 3-2 in the second-leg of that tie.

The Reds lost the shot and corner count in Romania and Sparta may come up short in Sweden.

Isaac Kiese Thelin to score first @ 9/2

Isaac Kiese Thelin is part of a Malmo attack that has scored 47 goals in 19 Swedish top-flight matches this season.

The 32-year-old has notched 12 times in 14 domestic appearances for the Blues Ones and the Swede looks ready to open his Champions League account.

Thelin is in his third spell at Malmo and the former Bordeaux forward appears to have found his best form fairly late in his career.

Malmo are a forward-thinking side and Rydstrom’s men should create plenty of chances for Thelin to convert.

Offers

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