In the first leg of the second round of the Champions League qualifiers, Swedish side Malmö will host Faroese club Klaksvík at the Eleda Stadion in the early hours of July 24th.
Malmö currently ranks 110th in UEFA’s club ranking. Their last successful qualification for the Champions League main draw was in the 2021-22 season, where they eliminated teams from Latvia, Finland, Scotland, and Bulgaria. In the 2022-23 season, they were eliminated in the second round of the Champions League qualifiers.
Klaksvík is ranked 129th and is a regular in European competition. They have participated in the qualifying rounds of various European tournaments (Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League) every summer since 2017. They have competed in the Champions League qualifiers for three consecutive years since the 2022-23 season, but have yet to secure a place in the main draw. Last season, they were eliminated in the third round of qualifying by Molde from Norway, forcing them to compete in the Conference League.
In terms of form, Malmö has secured 6 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 9 league matches since May, scoring 24 goals and conceding 11. In their last match, they defeated Sirius 4-3, showcasing their attacking prowess but also their defensive vulnerabilities. Malmö boasts a strong home record. Since August 2023, they have remained undefeated in 18 home games, winning 14 and drawing 4 (excluding friendly matches).
Klaksvík has recorded 7 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses in 11 matches since May, scoring 19 goals and conceding 10. In the first round of the Champions League qualifiers, they defeated Luxembourgian minnows Differdange 2-0 at home and drew 0-0 away. The team exhibits a significant difference in performance between home and away matches. Since July 2022, they have played a total of 16 European matches (including qualifiers). In away matches, they have achieved 1 win, 2 draws, and 6 losses in 9 games, resulting in a loss rate of 66.7%. In contrast, they have secured 4 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss in 7 home matches, with a loss rate of 14.3%.
The two teams have never faced each other directly. Malmö has faced Faroese teams twice in history, with a record of 1 win, 1 draw, 3 goals scored, and 1 goal conceded, demonstrating their dominance. Klaksvík has encountered Swedish teams twice in recent Champions League qualifiers. In the 2017-18 Europa League qualifiers, they faced AIK Solna, losing 0-0 at home and 0-5 away. Last season, in the Champions League qualifiers, they met Häcken, drawing 0-0 at home and 3-3 away, eventually winning the penalty shootout 4-3.
European media have highlighted some key players to watch. For Malmö, two players stand out: Trin, the 9th striker, a Swedish forward of Congolese descent, is the team’s top scorer; and Nanasi, the attacking midfielder wearing number 11, a Swedish national team player, is Malmö’s third top scorer and leading assist provider. Klaksvík’s key players are: Klettskarð, the 34-year-old veteran striker wearing number 9, is the team’s leading scorer; and Frederiksberg, the 32-year-old right winger wearing number 7, is the team’s second top scorer and leading assist provider.
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