Malmo vs Celtic Preview and Prediction – 25/08/15
Champions League preview – Malmo vs Celtic prediction
Malmo have a couple of players returning from suspension for this match and both should feature in the starting XI. Midfiedler, Enock Adu, who played at the weekend and striker Marcus Rosenberg, who also featured, are once again available in the Champions League. Otherwise, there should be no other changes to the team which played in Glasgow last week.
Celtic could without Swedish right-back, Mikael Lustig, for the trip back to his home country. The defender picked up an injury in the first leg and looks set to be out for another week. That could mean a start for either Efe Ambrose or Charlie Mulgrew, with the former most likely to get the nod. The remainder of the team should be the same that started the first leg at Celtic Park, with Leigh Griffiths starting up-front.
Possible Line-ups
Malmo: 4-4-2 formation: Wiland; Tinnerholm, Arnason, Bengtsson, Yotun; Rodic, Lewicki, Adu, Berget; Djurdjic, Rosenberg
Celtic: 4-2-3-1 formation: Gordon; Ambrose, Boyata, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Bitton, Brown; Mackay-Steven, Johansen, Forrest; Griffiths
- Malmo have won 5, drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Celtic have won 8 and drawn 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Malmo have scored an average of 1.6 goals and conceded an average of 1 goal per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Celtic have scored an average of 2.3 goals and conceded an average of 0.8 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Malmo’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Celtic’s previous 10 matches
- Malmo have not conceded in their last nine UEFA qualifying home games
The first leg developed in to quite an open match and with it finishing at 3-2 to Celtic, there is everything to play for in this second leg. Malmo, who lost their domestic fixture 1-0 at the weekend, know how to turn around a deficit in European competition, having defeated Salzburg in the previous round 3-0 at home, to go through 3-2 on aggregate. The return to the squad of Adu and Rosenberg will also strengthen Malmo’s chances of progression.
Celtic continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 win at Dundee United on the weekend and will also take confidence from their defensive display away to Qarabag, in the previous round of Champions League qualifying. However, Celtic got to this stage last season, only to be eliminated by NK Maribor and it will be considered a huge disappointment to go out at the same stage again this season, so the pressure is on.
This has the makings of a cracking match and there has been no love lost between the teams in the build up. It’s safe to say, that basically both teams have their season’s riding on this match and there should be goals. Celtic are certainly capable of scoring at least one goal, it all depends on how they cope with Malmo’s attacking threat, as to whether they go through.
We say: Draw and both teams to score at 10/3 with Bet365
What are your predictions?