Rangers – Malmo FF – Champions League
Rangers and Malmo meet at Ibrox Stadium, in a 2nd leg match for this stage of the UEFA Champions League (3rd Qualifying Round), after a (2‑1) home win by Malmö FF in the 1st leg. In this match, the home factor may play an important role, as Malmo has significant differences in the results achieved at home and as a visitor.
Rangers Analysis
The home team comes to this 2nd leg match with a disadvantage of 1 goal, but with the advantage of having scored 1 goal away in the 1st leg match. This is a team that keeps their performance when they play away from their stadium, as in the last 30 matches they register 7 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses in away matches; against 11 wins, 3 draws and 1 loss in their stadium. In their last match, for the Premier League, they got an away loss against Dundee United by (1‑0). In the last 10 home matches Rangers has 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Their attack has scored regularly, as they have managed to score in 7 of the last 10 matches.
Rangers comes unmotivated for this match after a 1-0 defeat, on the trip to Dundee United, in a game counting for the Scottish championship. Note that the home team lost, 2-1, against Malmo, in a game counting for the 1st match of the 3rd round of the Champions League. Steven Gerrard’s team operates in a 4-3-3 tactical system, where the three men occupying the most advanced sectors are Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi and Alfredo Morelos. It should be noted that one of the great weaknesses of the Rangers team has been the defensive permeability, which often lets the opponent create several dangerous situations. The home coach is without Ryan Jack and Nnamdi Ofoborh, both with physical problems.
Malmö Analysis
The away team comes to this 2nd leg match with an advantage of 1 goal, but has conceded 1 goal at home in the 1st leg match. This is a team that usually favors the home factor, stronger when they play with the support of their supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 6 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses in away matches, with a total of 26 goals scored and 21 conceded. At home, they won 12 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats, with a total of 32 goals scored and 14 conceded. The team comes to this match after an away draw against Halmstad by (0‑0). In the last 10 away matches Malmo has won 4, tied 4 and lost 2. Defensive consistency hasn’t been their best feature, as they have conceded goals in 4 of the last 5 matches, but their offense has scored regularly, as they have scored at least one goal in each of the last 5 matches for this competition. In their matches there is a tendency to have goals, as in 20 of their last 23 away matches there were Over 1.5 goals and in 15 of the last 23 there were Over 2.5 goals.
Malmo enters this round with a draw, 0x0, against Halmstad, in a game counting for the Swedish championship. Note that the Swedes beat Rangers, by 2-1, in the 1st match of the 3rd round of the Champions League. Contrary to the “enemy” of this match, the visiting club usually acts in a tactical design in 3-5-2, using two high quality players on the front line: Veljko Birmancevic and Antonio Colak. We can guess that Malmo has competence in maintaining ball possession and finishing. Coach Jon Dahl Tomasson is likely to be without Ola Toivonen and Jonas Knudsen because they are injured.
Rangers – Win Odds:1.45
Both teams to score / YES – Odds: 1.70
Over 2.5 Goals – Odds: 1.70
