Malmo FF — Ludogorets Razgrad : Match Preview and Prediction for September 24,2025

Malmo’s Europa League Journey Begins Anew

The Swedish outfit is embarking on another Europa League campaign. Last year’s endeavor proved to be highly unsuccessful for the Scandinavian side. Malmo failed to qualify for the top 24 stage, securing only one victory across eight matches. Their home fixtures were particularly challenging, as they stumbled on their own turf, managing to collect just a single point. However, it’s fair to acknowledge that they also faced tough opponents. Last year, Malmo hosted Galatasaray, holding them to a 2-2 draw, Twente (a 2-3 loss), as well as Olympiacos and Rangers, suffering 0-1 and 0-2 defeats, respectively. Honestly, each of these opponents was superior in quality, some significantly so.

Strong European Start at Home This Season

This season, the Swedes generally kicked off their European campaign with great vigor, especially considering their home fixtures. The team’s journey began in the Champions League qualifiers, securing a 3-1 win against Georgian side Iberia, followed by a modest 1-0 victory over RFS after an emphatic away win. They played to a goalless draw with neighboring Copenhagen, a team that appears to be in excellent form this season. Transitioning to the Europa League, they convincingly defeated Czech Republic’s Sigma with a dominant 3-0 scoreline.

Domestic League Home Form Concerns

What is genuinely concerning, or rather, has started to become concerning, is the team’s home form in the domestic championship. Malmo previously looked solid at home, with a current record of 5 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, but they’ve only managed to pick up two points from their last four home games. This dip in form is partly attributable to their prioritization of the European campaign. In the league, the “Blue Ones” are contending solely for European qualification spots, with a fifth of the season still remaining to rectify their position. Securing a place in the main European stage was an immediate priority. Nevertheless, this recent trend is far from ideal.

Overall Team Form and Recent Setbacks

Let’s also discuss the team’s overall form. The crushing 0-5 defeat to Copenhagen significantly jolted the squad. This was followed by a solid run of 3 victories and a draw, during which they kept clean sheets against all opponents. However, a slump followed, including a 1-1 draw with a weaker Degerfors side, a 2-2 draw with Elfsborg, and a recent 0-1 loss to Djurgården. Despite these recent results, the team’s general play still appears quite decent.

Key Players and Attacking Options

In attack, the absence of Botheim will certainly be felt. The forward has been sidelined with a serious injury for some time now. Therefore, Sead Haksabanovic will be tasked with leading the offense. The Balkan player has already notched two precise strikes during the Europa League qualifiers (i.e., in two matches against Sigma) and also managed 2 goals and 1 assist in the Champions League. Additionally, there are a couple of promising young talents on the bench. Excellent support comes from midfield courtesy of Lasse Joensen, the Norwegian midfielder who contributes both defensively and skillfully joins the attacks. Moreover, the presence of Oliver Berg, an experienced destroyer capable of maintaining high-intensity play throughout a match, should not be overlooked.

Team Strengths and Home Motivation

Overall, the Swedes don’t have any other particularly significant injuries. In terms of play style, they might not be the most compact team, but they exhibit excellent pressing in midfield and well-structured attacks. Playing on their home ground, they will undoubtedly be highly motivated and will aim to take the initiative.

Ludogorets’ Europa League Struggles

Ludogorets is another side that underperformed in last year’s Europa League campaign. The Bulgarian powerhouse had a rather mediocre showing last season, particularly struggling away from home. They failed to secure a single victory on the road, though they did manage to clinch three draws against formidable opponents like Lyon, Lazio, and Viktoria. Surprisingly, out of this tough group, their only loss was a 0-2 defeat to Anderlecht, while they managed to hold the Italian and Czech teams to goalless draws. Unfortunately, the team scored only one goal away from home throughout the entire campaign.

Offensive Woes and Qualification Hurdles This Season

Overall, Ludogorets scored only 4 goals last season, which was the worst record in the Europa League group stage. The team heavily focused on defense, which ultimately hampered their ability to achieve respectable results. This season, the team continues to face challenges. They initially struggled away against the less experienced Shkëndija, losing 1-2, then barely managed a 2-1 home victory before clinching a 4-1 win in extra time, relying on their class and experience. Against Ferencváros, they failed to score at all, despite the Hungarian side playing very open football; a 0-0 draw at home was followed by a comprehensive 0-3 away defeat. Significant difficulties also arose against Croatian side Rijeka, with identical 0-0 away and 1-1 home draws in regular time, only scoring twice in extra time, and even then, only after their opponents were reduced to ten men.

Domestic Dominance vs. European Reality

The purpose of this extensive statistical overview is to highlight that Ludogorets’ performance in their domestic league should not be considered a reliable benchmark. The team has clinched the title more than 10 times consecutively in a championship where they face virtually no competition, becoming a victim of their own unchallenged dominance. While Ludogorets currently boasts a 5-3-0 record in the league, even in this uncompetitive environment, their away record stands at only 2 wins and 2 draws.

Defensive Solidity Under Pressure

It’s important to acknowledge Ludogorets’ defensive capabilities. Here, the Bulgarian squad is generally very solid, but only until they face intense pressing. Ludogorets has simply grown unaccustomed to playing under significant pressure. Even compared to last year, when they heroically defended in a “park the bus” strategy against Lazio or a highly attacking Viktoria, a team like Ferencváros, which is almost on par with them on paper, simply wore them down recently.

Managerial Inexperience and Tactical Limitations

Furthermore, the team is led by an overtly inexperienced coach who simply lacks the practical knowledge required to prepare and motivate the squad for genuinely significant matches. Regrettably, there are currently major issues with making in-game adjustments as well.