In one of just two dead rubbers on the final matchday of the league phase in the Europa League, Slavia Prague and Malmo meet in the Czech capital on Thursday.
With both clubs already eliminated, the two are playing solely for pride, and a more respectable position in the 36-team standings.
Match preview
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Slavia and Malmo both enter matchday eight down on just four points, and would have expected far more from their first taste of the new format.
In particular, Slavia would have been confident in reaching the next round given their recent record in Europe, and the start they made to this season's competition.
The Czech giants have reached three European quarter-finals since 2019, and reached the round of 16 in this competition last season, before losing to AC Milan.
After taking four points from their opening two games, everything was looking rosy for Jindrich Trpisovsky's side, but they have since embarked on the club's worst-ever losing run in Europe, falling to defeat in each of their last five matches.
The sudden fall off is illustrated perfectly by their faltering home form, and a blunt attack, with Slavia losing three of their last four home games in Europe, as many as they had lost in the previous 18.
Only Galatasaray and Manchester United have taken more shots than Slavia's 124 in the Europa League season, but they have managed just five goals, and that dismal conversion rate of 4% is comfortably the worst in the competition.
The hosts will now at least face a Malmo side who they have good history against, having won both legs of their only previous meeting, back in the 1996-97 UEFA Cup, coming out 5-2 victors on aggregate.
![Lasse Berg Johnsen of Malmo FF celebrates during the UEFA Champions League football match between Malmo FF and Klaksvik on July 23, 2024 [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/lasse-berg-johnsen.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Lasse Berg Johnsen of Malmo FF celebrates during the UEFA Champions League football match between Malmo FF and Klaksvik on July 23, 2024 [on July 28, 2024]")
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For a club that reached the knockout rounds of this competition in 2019 and 2020, and also competed in the Champions League in 2021-22, Malmo will be very disappointed at their showing on their return to European action.
While they did seal the Allsvenskan title back in October, form in Europe has been dismal, with all eight of the defeats across their last 26 matches in all competitions coming on the continent, illustrating the step up in quality from the Swedish top flight.
Away form in particular has been hugely concerning, with 21 defeats in their last 26 away games in Europe, including nine losses in 10.
Malmo have also not enjoyed much success against clubs from Czechia either, losing five of the six encounters against clubs from the nation, including both legs of their Champions League qualifier against Slavia's bitter rivals Sparta Prague back in August.
Team News
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Slavia have an extraordinarily long list of absentees at present, and that was not helped by the fact they lost goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.
The man they will hope replaces Kinsky, Jakub Markovic, is not registered to play in Europe yet, and with Jindrich Stanek also out, Ales Mandous is set to start again.
Vasil Kusej and Divine Teah are also both unregistered, David Doudera is suspended, Ivan Schranz and Jan Boril are ill, while Lukas Provod, Lukas Vorlicky and Tomas Vlcek are injured, but Tomas Chory could start after returning to the matchday squad last week.
In comparison, Malmo's injury list looks rather short, but they still have some important players out, while key man Anders Christiansen is suspended after he was sent off after the final whistle against Twente last week for dissent.
Veteran defenders Pontus Jansson and Anton Tinnerholm are both out, while a groin injury is also set to keep Sead Haksabanovic sidelined.
Stefano Holmquist Vecchia's back issue will also keep him out, and first-choice striker Isaac Kiese Thelin is doubtful with a minor knock.
Slavia Prague possible starting lineup:
Mandous; Holes, Ogbu, Zima; Lingr, Zafeiris, Dorley, Prebsl, Diouf; Chory, Chytil
Malmo possible starting lineup:
Ricardo Friedrich; Stryger Larsen, Rosler, Zatterstrom, Busanello; Johnsen, Rosengren; Ali, Berg, Bolin; Botheim
We say: Slavia Prague 2-1 Malmo
With neither side having anything to play for, this could be treated more like a friendly, but both should still name strong teams in order to provide important match practice during respective winter breaks.
Henrik Rydstrom's Malmo side have not kept a clean sheet in 12 games, and frequently lose away from home on the continent, while Slavia will be desperate to end their club-record losing run in Europe.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
