Malmo can end their rusty rivals' resistance

Second qualifying round second legs
Tuesday

Malmo boss Magnus Pehrsson, and everyone else who witnessed the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Vardar, is still wondering how the match is level at 1-1 going to Skopje for the return.

The Macedonians were played off the park for almost 90 minutes in Sweden with Malmo claiming 13 of the game’s 14 corners, 65 per cent possession and 24 shots, 21 more than their guests.

If they are encouraged by the performance rather than discouraged by the scoreline, the Swedish league leaders can finish the job against rusty opponents, who are in their mid-season break.

The New Saints managed to overturn a first-leg deficit in the first qualifying round against Europa but, set with the same challenge again, the task looks beyond them.

Coming from behind to beat Gibraltarian opposition is one thing; overhauling a 2-0 scoreline at home to crack Croatian outfit Rijeka is a different matter. Rijeka were outstanding at home and should have won by far more than two goals against the limited Welsh side.

Recommendation
Malmo
2pts 19-20 Ladbrokes

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