Table-topping Malmo travel to Varnamo in round 12 of the Swedish Allsvenskan on Saturday, looking to hold on to top spot in the top flight.

The home side have had mixed results at Finnvedsvallen, and the title contenders will look to capitalise on the hosts' tendency to blow hot and cold on their turf.

Match preview

Varnamo could claim a colossal scalp when they welcome Malmo to Finnvedsvallen this weekend, a situation not lost on Kim Hellberg, who has been in charge since January 2022.

He is yet to taste victory over the giants, but forcing the Blue Ones to consecutive goalless encounters last season should motivate his inconsistent side when they take to the pitch this weekend.

With three defeats in their last five league fixtures, they are undoubted underdogs on Saturday, even if 13 goals conceded in 11 games suggests the 11th-placed side can be disciplined at the back if need be.

Their issues have been further forward, where only nine goals have been scored in the Allsvenskan, outdoing only two clubs in the league's bottom half.

They have scored four home goals in as many games but have conceded just four times at Finnvedsvallen, potentially making round 12's encounter with Malmo far from a straightforward affair.

The visitors will not take Varnamo for granted, having been held to a pair of stalemates in last season's encounters.

Despite taking charge last December, Henrik Rydstrom has had a commendable start to life with Malmo, with his current points per game (2.47) after 15 games outdoing all the club's managers since the mid-2000s.

The away side wobbled over two gameweeks, picking up a point from an available six in rounds nine and 10, but they returned to winning by thrashing Degerfors 5-0 in the previous match.

That triumph saw the Blue Ones reclaim first place from Elfsborg, a position they look to keep when they battle Varnemo on Saturday.

Malmo have the joint-second-best away record in the Swedish top division, picking up 12 points from a possible 15, so success this weekend is expected.

Team News

Jonathan Rasheed can often make a string of saves between the sticks, and the Varnamo goalkeeper could be pivotal in Saturday's result.

At the other end, Gustav Engvall leads the scoring charts for the club with three goals, making the forward the home side's top threat against the title-contending visitors.

As for Malmo, Sebastien Nanasi and Stefano Vecchia stepped up in Isaac Kiese Thelin's absence against Degerfors, and both could play central roles on Saturday.

Busanello's creativity from left-back is expected to pose problems for the home side's sturdy defence – the defender has three assists this term and has created four big chances.

Varnamo possible starting lineup:
Rasheed; Larsson, Eriksson, Grozdanic, Lohikangas; Johansson, Nasstrom, Wenderson; Engvall, Zeljkovi, Ademi

Malmo possible starting lineup:
Dahlin; Nielson, Moisander, Cornelius, Busanello; Pena, Bolin, Larsson; Ali, Vecchia, Nanasi

We say: Varnamo 0-1 Malmo

Malmo are tipped to get a slender win over their bogey side Varnamo, having failed to score against them in both meetings last season, thus ending that winless run at the third time of asking to ward off Elfsborg.


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