The home team clearly better from the start
During a cautious match start from both teams, it was Malmö FF who started best. Anders Christansen dotted the inside of the post after a quarter, and in the attack afterwards, a dismissed Sören Rieks chose for some unclear reason to try to play Antonio Colak instead of going on his own finish. The goal came in the 26th minute, when a corner variant found Veljko Birmancevic outside the penalty area boundary – who placed a shot with his right foot next to the post. The home team could have scored even more goals during the first half, and Johan Dahlin was idle for much of it. The goalkeeper was alert, however, when Ludogorets finally got a finish on goal through Bernard Tekpetey, and saved the ball to a corner in a strong way. Malmö FF did not look very good with the ball initially, but became more confident in ball possession the longer the half lasted. They threatened with straight passes through Ludogorets as well as balls behind a rather dizzying back line.
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The MFF defense resisted despite new injuries
But in the 33rd minute, the successful acquisition – he can already be called that – Niklas Moisander was forced out with a feeling. By then, MFF had already suspended Anel Ahmedhodzic in this match together with midfielder Bonke Innocent. However, Franz Brorsson was back after a week’s absence, and right-back Eric Larsson had to take a seat next to him and Lasse Nielsen on the right in the back line. From the MFF side, it is often pointed out that it does not matter and they are forced or need to change in the team – they should not affect the performance. Quite rightly, they continued with the same disciplined defensive play after the break, and after an hour the 2-0 goal came when Jon Inge Berget was the fastest forward on a goalkeeper return.
MFF storms against Champions League
MFF had another opportunity to get a real dream result before the return in Bulgaria. The most important thing, however, was not to drop anything backwards, which the home team managed with bravura during the last half hour. They got the 2-0 victory they already deserved against Rangers in the last qualifying match at home – this after 17-4 in the final and 6-3 in shots on goal against Ludogorets. MFF is lead-heavy to face, effective in the offensive, and plays with a speed in the game that few opponents at this level can resist. They do it tonight without the aforementioned Ahmedhodzic and Innocent, and injured Sergio Pena, Ola Toivonen and Jonas Knudsen. In addition, the new acquisition Martin Olsson is not ready to play until the group stage. MFF’s breadth not only impresses in an all-Swedish context.
Rakip delivered in a difficult situation
An injury in the spring hacked up Erdal Rakip’s season, and Innocent pushed ahead in the queue at Malmö FF’s midfield. The 25-year-old has since been in and out of the starting eleven, but tonight Rakip was the given replacement for Innocent and managed to deliver in the season’s most important match so far. The MFF product did not look completely safe in the passing game at first, but like the whole team got into the match quite quickly. Rakip were mostly trying to use their skill at attacking on the flanks. Rakip is one of the few who have remained since the last Champions League participation in 2015, and there is much to suggest that he can experience a group game again.
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Ludogorets did not impress at all
The Bulgarian champion is not the most organized. The four-back line got no grip on the moving Colak and MFF could get around even on the edges. Going forward, Ludogorets relied heavily on the individual dexterity of the speakers Cauly and Tekpetey, and right-back Jordan Ikoko’s ingenuity. But despite the ball skill, Ludogorets did not sit together as a team. The uncertainty from the back line spread further, and in the play-off phase the team was careless several times. Ludogorets can flash in the return – that tip is enough to pick up in the team – and they get the suspended star Kiril Despodov back. They will also have to move forward from the start next Tuesday and thus risk exposing the shaky defensive, which will require more than a normal performance against MFF to turn the deficit around.
Next season is streamed all matches from the Uefa Champions League at Telia and C More.
In addition can stream Malmö FF’s last qualifying match against Ludogorets.
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