Sparta Prague take on the visitors Malmo in the second leg of final round of UEFA Conference League qualification. First leg result: 2-0. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 27th at epet ARENA (Prague).
Sparta managed to pull off an unexpected 2-0 away victory against the internationally experienced Swedish side Malmö last week, giving the Czech team a great chance to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. However, it's hard to believe that Sparta will keep a clean sheet in both legs against such an attacking Scandinavian side. Keeping a clean sheet in defense is a rare occurrence for the current Sparta, which typically prefers a very open 4-3-3 tactical setup. If we draw parallels with Sparta's previous European matches, where they allowed plenty of chances not only to the well-known Romanian side Steaua (1-1, 3-2) but also to the less sophisticated Irish team Shamrock Rovers (4-2 at home after a 2-0 away win), it becomes clear that nothing is decided yet in this matchup!
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At the very least, Malmö can certainly expect to score at least one goal here. Their goalless first match was an anomaly and a shock against what is usually a clear and strong attacking force. The Swedish champions had no issues with offensive execution prior to that match, repeatedly breaking through the defense of Faroe Islands' KÍ Klaksvík (4-1, 2-3) and the solid Greek side PAOK (2-2, 3-3 away).
Now, let's take a look at how Sparta and Malmö are performing in their domestic leagues. In particular, in the Czech First League, Sparta's defense is currently conceding goals against almost every opponent, whether at home or away. For example, in their most recent match, Sparta conceded two goals at home in Prague against the average side Slovácko (2-2). Before that, defensive lapses were exploited by Jablonec (2-1), Bohemians (2-1), Teplice (4-1), and Pardubice (2-1). In fact, in their last 13 matches, Sparta's defense has kept a clean sheet only three times, while conceding two goals (+) in five games. Meanwhile, it's hard to imagine Malmö failing to score these days. In their last 36 matches, they have left the pitch without scoring in only two games, and in 23 of those matches, they scored at least twice. Overall, I believe the bet on Malmö's Individual Total Over 1 (1) is optimal for this match. The Swedes have nothing to lose and need to score at least twice. Additionally, Sparta will be without defenders Garcia and Pavelka.
Prediction for the match: Malmo to score – yes.
