Preview: Malmo vs Copenhagen - prediction, team news, lineups

In the first leg of the third round of Champions League qualifying, Malmo will host Danish visitors Copenhagen at Eleda Stadion on Tuesday.

The Swedish side overcame RFS 5-1 on aggregate in the second round and beat Iberia 1999 6-2 in the first, while Copenhagen were entered into the competition in the second round and emerged as 3-0 winners against Drita earlier in July to advance to this stage.

Match preview

The hosts beat RFS 1-0 on July 30 - preventing their opponents from registering a shot on target - though the tie had been all but won given they also won the first leg 4-1 in July.

Manager Henrik Rydstrom will need to navigate two more rounds of qualifying if he is to guide his side to the league phase of the Champions League, a stage they have not reached since 2021-22.

The Blue Ones' domestic season is just over the halfway point, with the club fourth with 33 points after 18 matchweeks in the Allsvenskan following a narrow 3-2 victory against Brommapojkarna on July 26, and they are 10 points behind first-placed Mjallby.

Malmo head into Tuesday's clash on the back of seven consecutive victories, with the team scoring at least three goals five times in that period, though they only kept two clean sheets in those games.

Rydstrom's side have also won their past four matches at home, netting 10 while conceding on just two occasions.

Copenhagen's second-leg 1-0 win against Drita in the second round of qualifying on July 29 ensured a 3-0 aggregate win, but they were helped by the fact their opponents were reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute.

The visitors are only three games into their 2025-26 league campaign, but they have started the season with three wins and are in first place, with their most recent triumph a 2-0 win against Fredericia on August 1.

Boss Jacob Neestrup's side have faced Malmo twice in competitive matches - both in the group stage of the 2019-20 Europa League - but they lost 1-0 in December 2019 and drew 1-1 in October that year.

The Lions' performances this season have been strong considering they have triumphed in all five of their fixtures this term, keeping four clean sheets in their last four outings while scoring seven times.

Copenhagen head to Eleda Stadion having achieved wins in each of their past seven away matches, keeping their opponents at bay on five occasions.

Malmo Champions League form:

Malmo form (all competitions):

Copenhagen Champions League form:

Copenhagen form (all competitions):

Team News

Malmo will want to name a similar starting lineup to the side that beat RFS 1-0, with the likes of Pontus Jansson and Andrej Duric hoping to retain their places in the heart of defence.

In midfield, Rydstrom may select a double pivot consisting of Otto Rosengren and Oliver Berg, especially as Anders Christiansen is injured.

Sead Haksabanovic and Taha Ali are likely to start up front given striker Erik Botheim has been ruled out.

Meanwhile, Copenhagen forward Andreas Cornelius can be expected to lead the line ahead of a supporting cast featuring Mohamed Elyounoussi and Elias Achouri.

Lukas Lerager and Thomas Delaney are candidates to play ahead of centre-backs Gabriel Pereira, Pantelis Hatzidiakos and Munashe Garananga.

Malmo possible starting lineup:

Olsen; Rosler, Jansson, Duric, Busanello; Larsen, Rosengren, Berg, Bolin; Haksabanovic, Ali

Copenhagen possible starting lineup:

Kotarski; Pereira, Hatzidiakos, Garananga; Huescas, Lerager, Delaney, Meling; Elyounoussi, Achouri; Cornelius

We say: Malmo 1-1 Copenhagen

Copenhagen have been excellent at the back in recent weeks, and they may be able to limit the number of opportunities Malmo create.

The hosts will still be confident of scoring given their strong record in front of goal, though considering their opponents have also performed well of late, perhaps the most likely outcome on Tuesday is a low-scoring draw.