Preview: Malmo vs Sigma Olomouc - prediction, team news, lineups

Swedish champions Malmo welcome Czech Cup winners Sigma Olomouc to the Eleda Stadium in the first leg of their Europa League playoff on Thursday night.

This will be Malmo’s fourth European tie of the season already, while Sigma are only just getting started in their first continental campaign for seven years.

Match preview

Malmo’s long run in Europe so far started back in early July, when they beat Georgian champions Iberia in the first round of Champions League qualifying.

Henrik Rydstrom’s men also knocked out RFS of Latvia, but they were thumped 5-0 in the second leg of their third round tie against Copenhagen last week, dubbed the Oresund Bridge derby, given that just one five-mile bridge separates the two cities.

That means Malmo will now have to settle for either Europa League football again, as they did last season, or a spot in the Conference League for the first time.

The Swedes underperformed in the UEL last season, finishing 31st in the inaugural League Phase, two years after coming bottom of their group on their previous appearance in 2022-23.

Malmo did not prepare well for the second leg against Copenhagen last week, losing 3-1 at home to Mjallby, leaving them 13 points off the pace at the top of the Allsvenskan, so the hosts will hope that beating Halmstad 4-0 on Saturday will fill the team with more confidence.

As a result of them getting this far in Europe, Malmo’s Svenska Cupen qualifier against BK Olympic, scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed, but that could be a route they must go down if they want to qualify for a UEFA competition again next season, with the race for Europe in the league getting tight with 10 games to go.

While Malmo have been in action for months, both domestically and in Europe, Sigma Olomouc are only just getting started, with their MOL Cup win last season guaranteeing League Phase action of some variety.

Tomas Janotka’s men have made a strong start, as they beat Zlin over the weekend thanks to Daniel Vasulin’s late goal which moved them into the top four with 10 points from five games.

Their only defeat so far this season came away to Sparta Prague, so this will be a much tougher test for Malmo than many may be envisaging.

Even if Sigma fail at this hurdle, they will still drop into the Conference League proper, representing their first ever qualification for a UEFA competition.

This is the first European tie the visitors have played since 2018, when they were extremely unfortunate to be drawn against Europa League specialists Sevilla, losing 4-0 on aggregate in a playoff.

That is not the only time Sigma have gotten this far, though, as their previous European campaign also saw them reach the playoff round, but Everton stood in their way, with a 4-0 defeat at Goodison Park signalling elimination for the Czech outfit.

Malmo form (all competitions):

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Sigma Olomouc form (all competitions):

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Team News

Malmo will have left-back Gabriel Busanello back from suspension after he missed the win over Halmstad at the weekend, while Salifou Soumah made his debut off the bench following a summer move from Azeri club Zira.

There are two long-term injuries for the hosts though, as Erik Botheim is out with a broken leg, while veteran stopper Johan Dahlin has missed all of 2025 so far, so former Sweden international Robin Olsen is set to start between the sticks.

Sigma Olomouc will welcome Jan Kral and goalkeeper Jan Koutny back from suspension, after both were dismissed in the defeat at Sparta Prague and missed the weekend win.

There are still a number of injury concerns for the visitors though, as Nigerian duo Dele Israel and Yunusa Muritala are out alongside homegrown pair Jan Fiala and Jan Kliment.

Another Nigerian has been brought in by Janotka though, as Muhamed Tijani has arrived on loan from Slavia Prague, and could prove to be a shrewd acquisition in attack.

Malmo possible starting lineup:

Olsen; Stryger Larsen, Jansson, Djuric, Rosler, Busanello; Ali, Rosengren, Johnsen, Bolin; Haksabanovic

Sigma Olomouc possible starting lineup:

Koutny; Slavicek, Sylla, Kral, Slama; Breite, Spacil, Tkac; Navratil, Tijani, Mikulenka

We say: Malmo 2-0 Sigma Olomouc

Malmo are fancied here given their European experience over Sigma, as well as the fact they come into this clash as reigning Swedish champions.

The visitors have not played in Europe for almost a decade, and even though they have started well domestically, it will be no surprise to see them drop into the Conference League following the second leg next week.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.