On Wednesday, the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League begins with a match at the Malmö New Stadium, where Swedish team Malmö faces Bulgarian champions Ludogorets. Here’s a look at what to expect from this matchup, along with odds for the outcome.
Match preview
Malmö has made its way back to the Europa League group stage, but recent performances have not been encouraging. Last season, they conceded 17 goals, making them one of the weakest teams in the competition. At home, they have not won in 7 of their last 8 games.
The team’s main issue lies in defense, struggling against fast attacks. However, they possess decent offensive potential and will aim to make the most of any scoring opportunities, although consistency has been a challenge for them.
Ludogorets secured their national title for the 14th straight time, yet their European results have been underwhelming for years. Last season, they finished in the lower half of their Europa League group, without any victories. This year, they barely got past Shkëndija in the qualification playoff after extra time.
The team faces problems in the attack—only 4 goals scored in last season’s Europa League, the lowest among all teams. On the road, they are even worse, currently on a five-match winless streak in regulation time away from home, showing the need to improve in defense and be braver in attacking.
Probable lineups
- Malmö: Robin Olsen, Gabriel Busanello, Colin Rösler, Jens Stryger Larsen, Pontus Jansson, Adrian Skugmar, Otto Rosengren, Lasse Johnsen, Hugo Bolin, Sead Hakšabanović, Daniel Gudjohnsen
- Ludogorets: Sergio Padt, Son, Dinis Almeida, Edwin Kurtulus, Idan Nachmias, Pedro Naressi, Ivaylo Chochev, Caio Vidal, Filip Kaloč, Bernard Tekpetey, Eric Bille
Match facts and head-to-head
- Malmö has won only 3 of their last 16 Europa League games.
- Ludogorets has not won in five consecutive away matches in the Europa League.
- Six of Malmö’s last seven Europa League games had at least three goals.
Prediction
Both teams face similar challenges and lack stability in European competitions. Malmö’s defense is weak, while Ludogorets struggles to score, suggesting a cautious and tight match. A sensible bet would be Under 2.5 goals at odds of 1.90, as both teams are unlikely to produce a high-scoring game.