Swedish side Malmo take on Latvian side Rīgas in the 25/26 UEFA Champions League second round qualifiers. The Swedes are the favourites to progress, winning their last six matches.
The first leg ended in a thumping win against Rigas, 4-1 at home with Sead Haksabanovic netting one and assisting the other for Malmo. Henrik Rydström will be delighted with his team’s performance. Viktors Morozs will have to think out of the box to get a result against the Swedish side.
Both teams lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with a 4-man midfield and two wide forwards. No changes are expected of either team, the Latvian side will have to hope that new signing, Davis Ikaunieks finally gets on the scoresheet after shooting blanks in his first four matches.
Malmo predicted starting lineup: Olsen; Busanello, Djuric, Jansson, Rösler; Bolin, Rosengren, Berg, Larsen; Haksabanovic, Ali
Rigas predicted starting lineup: Maric; Savalnieks, Stuglis, Lipuscek, Gaye; Panic, Ikaunekis, Nije; Zelenkovs; Ikaunieks, Lemajic
The current head to head record for the teams are – Malmö FF having just a win, as these sides clashed for the first time last Tuesday.
With the first leg ending 4-1 and the Latvian side having to travel to Malmö the chances of progressing look next to impossible. The Swedes will most likely control the game and not let Rigas sniff the ball.
Prediction
It looks bleak for Rigas, the Swedish Giants are most likely to progress to the third round.
Malmö FF 3-1 RFS
The action starts on Wed, Jul 30, 2025, 15:00 GMT at Eleda Stadion.
