The UEFA Champions League qualifying stages are starting to heat up, and one of the most exciting third-round first-leg matches takes place in Sweden, where Malmo FF will host FC Copenhagen. These are two historical giants of Scandinavian football; both clubs come into this fixture in excellent form. However, only one will progress to the knockout stages of the Champions 'League. Both clubs come into this match on lengthy unbeaten runs, which gives promise to an explosive football match.

Malmo will look to use the home advantage in the Eleda Stadium for the crucial Round 3 first leg against Copenhagen. Malmo are coming off a convincing defeat of RFS in the second round and against a Copenhagen side that has a perfect start to their new domestic season and has shown to be strong in defense.

Bookmakers slightly favor Copenhagen, but Malmo's form and home record suggest a closely contested match is ahead. 

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Malmo are in sensational form with a run of seven straight wins, scoring 3+ goals in five matches and two clean sheets. They sit 4th in the Allsvenskan with 33 points from 18 games.

Like Malmo, Copenhagen is also unbeaten in five games this season, having four clean sheets and scoring seven goals. The Danish champions have come flying out of the traps in 2025-26.

The last time the teams played was in the 2019-20 Europa League group stage, where Malmo won 1-0 in Copenhagen and drew 1-1 at home.

Malmo has a number of injuries, including;

Copenhagen does not have as many possible absentees due to injury but may be without:

Olsen (GK); Rösler, Jansson, Duric, Busanello; Larsen, Rosengren, Berg, Bolin; Haksabanovic, Ali

Kotarski (GK); Huescas, Pereira, Hatzidiakos, López; Lerager, Delaney; Larsson, Mattsson, Achouri; Cornelius

Henrik Rydstrom oversees Malmo in a 4-4-2, aggressive, and high-pressing format. They will be a threat, especially in wide areas, as left back Busanello and right back (and ex-Kickoff's own) Rösler can both push high and can exploit space beyond Ali on the wing. Defensively, Malmo is a bit of a mess, as they can be vulnerable in the transition game.

Copenhagen Adopts a More Pragmatic and Structured 4-2-3-1. They will challenge Malmo’s organized pressure by keeping possession and trying to enter the final third and exploit spaces. Thomas Delaney and Lukas Lerager provide some balance and structure in midfield, while Achouri and Elyounoussi will keep the Malmo backline in a frantic game state.

The ex-Celtic winger is in a rich vein of goal-scoring form, with four goals in his last six outings. Haksabanovic played a pivotal role in the triumph over RFS and will be paramount in finding creative openings to break down Copenhagen’s physical defense.

Mattsson has scored three goals in the UCL qualifiers so far, including a brace in the second round. He had also taken the team's penalty duties from the outset and has good vision and ability to pass/make the attacking pass. He will be the creative engine for Copenhagen in the match-up with Malmo.

Ali has three goals in four UCL qualifiers and is one of the most explosive attackers in this Malmo team. He is dangerous in both scoring and assisting.

It is setting up to be a close Scandinavian derby. Both teams are in form, defensively solid, and have attacking threats. I am going to predict a draw, as Copenhagen have done so well in away games and Malmo have a good record at home. Seems most logical to predict a close 1-1 draw.

Correct Score Prediction: Malmo FF 1-1 FC Copenhagen

Best Bets:

Current Betting Odds from Stake.com:

• Malmo FF: 3.25

• Draw: 3.10

• Copenhagen: 2.32

The Malmo vs Copenhagen match-up is a great exhibition of the Champions League qualifying drama. While Malmo comes into this contest in good form and has the home game advantage, Copenhagen's away form and defensive record make them almost impossible to beat.

Expect them both to lock it down tactically and prepare for a tense affair, as I am sure they will both be defensive in the first leg. Thus, it would not be a surprise for the first match to have ended in a 1-1 tie. This would make good action for the Dinamo and Malmo match in the second leg in Denmark.

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