Malmo has eliminated Ballymena and Domzale, although everything didn’t go smoothly even after they drew away. Zrinjski too passed two obstacles but elimination of Utrecht in the second qualifying round was something special. This is going to be their first head-to-head.
Malmo started its European journey in the first qualifying round and then they easily eliminated Ballymena. Their second opponent was NK Domzale from Slovenia. Malmo was considered a favourite to win, and after 2-2 away it seemed that will have a routine rematch. They were trailing behind twice in the 1st leg and easily received goals, and all that happened again in the rematch. Again, they were first to take lead, then Domzale turned the result up-side down and then the guest equalised. Seven minutes before the end stopper Bengtsson scores for the final 3-2 and Mamlo goes to the third round. In the 2nd leg Dahlin was at the goal and that was the only change. When it comes to the Swedish Allsvenskan league Malmo stands quite well; it occupied the second place and has one point fewer than the leaders and have only lost once this season.
Probable lineups Malmo: Dahlin – Lewicki, Larsson, Bengtsson, Safari – Christiansen, Bachirou, Berget, Rieks – Antonsson, Rosenberg
Zrinjski made a historic success in the second qualifying round in which they eliminated Utrecht from the Netherlands. Never before the team from Mostar defeated a team of such quality and that is why the season will be remembered for a long time, regardless of the outcome of match with Malmo. Of course, Zrinjski will not surrender in advance as they are maximally relaxed now and have no imperative since they are again outsiders. They expectedly eliminated Akademija Pandev before facing Utrecht, but they are paying price of success in the Europa League with weaker results in the Bosnia-Herzegovina championship, although they had a difficult schedule.
Probable lineups NSK Zrinjski: Brkic – Kadusic, Jakovljevic, Barbaric, Rugasevic – Cirjak, Rustemovic, Sovsic – Mandic, Govaderica – I. Hadzic
Malme is definitely a favourite to win Zrinjski but it was Utrecht and the Dutch burned their fingers. Malmo will play more cautiously but we expect that Zrinjski again put up a good resistance and that nothing will be resolved after the 1st leg.