Mjällby
On Tuesday, 21 July, the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Champions League between Mjallby AIF and Lincoln Red Imps FC will take place at Strandvallen in Hallevik. The match will kick off at 17:00 BST.
The Swedish champions look the logical favourites in the tie. Yes, Aksum's side are not getting the results they want, but the gulf in class is too obvious. Lincoln Red Imps FC have clearly reached their ceiling in qualifying, but can they avoid a heavy defeat?
Mjallby AIF go into the start of Champions League qualifying on a poor run — they have not won since 14 May. Seven matches in the Swedish league and one friendly against FC Copenhagen (3:5) point to an emerging crisis. On the other hand, the Scandinavian champions have failed to score only twice in that spell — including in the most recent round against Vasteras SK (0:0). Mjallby AIF have a decent low block: their 3-4-3 system gives them control in midfield, while the wide areas constantly generate chances going forward. However, that does not always translate into goals: at home against Vasteras SK, their advantage in goalscoring situations was huge — 1.80-0.68 in xG and 16-7 in shots. It seems Aksum's side know how to keep everything under control, but problems with finishing are leaving Mjallby AIF without wins.
Lincoln Red Imps FC “woke from hibernation” two weeks ago. Before their clashes with Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes (4:2 on aggregate), the Gibraltar champions had not played since 25 April — that lack of match practice was clear to the naked eye. Pavon's side failed away from home: the match ended in a draw (1:1), but Lincoln Red Imps FC did not deserve that outcome (7-31 in shots). In Sweden, Lincoln Red Imps FC will not be able to defend compactly: they play in a 4-3-3 system, putting plenty of emphasis on vertical passes. Against top-level opposition, the speed of their attacks will drop, while the quality of the squad will deprive the underdogs of any chances.
Lincoln Red Imps FC trail Mjallby AIF by more than 10 times in transfer value — EUR2.2 million against EUR25.8 million. The Swedish champions will end their poor run — they need to wake up right now. Fortunately, the opposition's form allows for that.
Matthew De Gabriele (Malta)
Matches – 6 (international fixtures, 2024–2026);
Average fouls per match – 24;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) – 4.5;
Matches with a red card – 2 out of 6;
Matches with a penalty – 2 out of 6.
|
Andreas Brännström
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Robin Lars Wallinder
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ludvig Oliver Svanberg
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tom Peder Pettersson
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tony Miettinen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Elliot Karl Stroud
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Jeppe Kjær Jensen
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Karl Viktor Gustafson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Per Jesper Gustavsson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Villiam John Morgan Granath
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Anders Jacob Bergström
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Áki Debes Samuelsen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Henric Alexander Lundin
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Abdullah Iqbal
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Axel Vilhelm Lindberg Norén
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Martin Agnarsson
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Max Klarlund Nielsen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lars Ludvig Nicholas Tidstrand
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Per Olle Elton Lindberg
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Romeo Arrhenius Leandersson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Teo Helge
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Abdoulie Manneh
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ali Ben Safouane Youssef
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bork Classønn Bang-Kittilsen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Juan Manuel Pavon
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Jaylan Ernest Hankins
|
gk. | 2 | -4 |
|
Bernardo Morgado Gaspar Lopes
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Christian Rutjens Oliva
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Mariano González Maroto
|
df. | 3 | 1 |
|
Gabriel Sebastián Cardozo Tomás
|
df. | 2 | 0 |
|
Armando Sosa Peña
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
José Manuel Martínez Oliver
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Julliani Giowani Eersteling
|
mf. | 3 | 0 |
|
Antonio García Montero
|
fw. | 3 | 0 |
|
Enrique Gómez Bernal
|
fw. | 3 | 0 |
|
Manuel Toledano Ortiz
|
fw. | 3 | 1 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Nauzet García Santana
|
gk. | 1 | -1 |
|
Mark Pieter Gustav Hamm
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yussef Flalhi Idrissi
|
df. | 3 | 0 |
|
Ethan Terence Jolley
|
df. | 1 | 0 |
|
Facundo Rafael Álvarez
|
mf. | 3 | 1 |
|
Nicolas Sellassie Clara Pinto
|
mf. | 2 | 0 |
|
Graeme Lee Torrilla
|
mf. | 1 | 0 |
|
Alejandro Miguel Mula Sánchez
|
fw. | 3 | 1 |
|
Rubén García Flores
|
fw. | 1 | 0 |
|
Lee Henry Casciaro
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Mjällby
Mjällby
AIK
IK Sirius
Mjällby
IFK Goteborg
Mjällby
Elfsborg
Mjällby
Mjällby
BK Häcken
Mjällby
Malmö
Mjällby
Mjällby
GAIS
Mjällby
Inter Club d'Escaldes
Lincoln Red Imps
Lincoln Red Imps
Inter Club d'Escaldes
Legia
Lincoln Red Imps
Lincoln Red Imps
Sigma Olomouc
Hamrun Spartans
Lincoln Red Imps
Lincoln Red Imps
Rijeka
Lincoln Red Imps
Lech
Zrinjski
Lincoln Red Imps
Sporting Braga
Lincoln Red Imps
Lincoln Red Imps
Sporting Braga
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14:5 | 9 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12:3 | 9 |
|
3
|
Liverpool
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12:7 | 9 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10:5 | 9 |
|
5
|
Real Betis
|
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7:4 | 9 |
|
6
|
Stuttgart
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 7 |
|
7
|
Arsenal
|
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6:2 | 7 |
|
8
|
Barcelona
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11:6 | 6 |
|
9
|
Como
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10:5 | 6 |
|
10
|
Manchester City
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9:5 | 6 |
|
11
|
Brugge
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9:6 | 6 |
|
12
|
Sporting CP
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 6 |
|
13
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 6 |
|
14
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10:5 | 5 |
|
15
|
AS Roma
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8:5 | 4 |
|
16
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 |
|
17
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4:3 | 4 |
|
18
|
PSV
|
|
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2:2 | 4 |
|
19
|
Villarreal
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8:8 | 3 |
|
20
|
Inter Milan
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:6 | 3 |
|
21
|
Manchester United
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:6 | 3 |
|
22
|
Napoli
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 3 |
|
23
|
Galatasaray
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:9 | 3 |
|
24
|
LASK Linz
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6:9 | 3 |
|
25
|
FK Sabah
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:6 | 3 |
|
26
|
Feyenoord
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:8 | 3 |
|
27
|
Lens
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:7 | 3 |
|
28
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4:9 | 3 |
|
29
|
AEK Athens
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:8 | 3 |
|
30
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3:8 | 3 |
|
31
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3:9 | 2 |
|
32
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4:7 | 1 |
|
33
|
Viking
|
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5:9 | 1 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4:10 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1:13 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
PSG
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10:3 | 6 |
|
2
|
Aston Villa
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9:1 | 6 |
|
3
|
Liverpool
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:4 | 6 |
|
4
|
Real Madrid
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6:2 | 6 |
|
5
|
Real Betis
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 6 |
|
6
|
Como
|
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8:2 | 6 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4:2 | 4 |
|
8
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7:2 | 4 |
|
9
|
Arsenal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Barcelona
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5:1 | 3 |
|
11
|
Manchester City
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:5 | 3 |
|
12
|
Brugge
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:3 | 3 |
|
13
|
Sporting CP
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:4 | 3 |
|
14
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
15
|
AS Roma
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7:4 | 3 |
|
16
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
17
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
18
|
Villarreal
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:1 | 3 |
|
19
|
Inter Milan
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
20
|
Manchester United
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:0 | 3 |
|
21
|
Napoli
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:4 | 3 |
|
22
|
FK Sabah
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
23
|
Feyenoord
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
24
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
25
|
AEK Athens
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
26
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1:0 | 3 |
|
27
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3:3 | 2 |
|
28
|
PSV
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
29
|
Viking
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
30
|
Galatasaray
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:4 | 0 |
|
31
|
LASK Linz
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3:6 | 0 |
|
32
|
Lens
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:2 | 0 |
|
33
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4:7 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
| # | Team | Form | Matches played | W | D | L | G | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Arsenal
|
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:2 | 4 |
|
2
|
PSG
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:2 | 3 |
|
3
|
Aston Villa
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
4
|
Liverpool
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6:3 | 3 |
|
5
|
Real Madrid
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
6
|
Real Betis
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:2 | 3 |
|
7
|
Stuttgart
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3:0 | 3 |
|
8
|
Barcelona
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6:5 | 3 |
|
9
|
Manchester City
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
10
|
Brugge
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4:3 | 3 |
|
11
|
Sporting CP
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2:0 | 3 |
|
12
|
Borussia Dortmund
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2:2 | 3 |
|
13
|
PSV
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1:1 | 3 |
|
14
|
Galatasaray
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5:5 | 3 |
|
15
|
LASK Linz
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:3 | 3 |
|
16
|
Lens
|
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3:5 | 3 |
|
17
|
Bayern Munich
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3:3 | 1 |
|
18
|
AS Roma
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1:1 | 1 |
|
19
|
Atlético Madrid
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:3 | 1 |
|
20
|
Shakhtar Donetsk
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1:2 | 1 |
|
21
|
Slavia Prague
|
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2:4 | 1 |
|
22
|
Como
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
23
|
Villarreal
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5:7 | 0 |
|
24
|
Inter Milan
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:2 | 0 |
|
25
|
Manchester United
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
26
|
Napoli
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1:3 | 0 |
|
27
|
FK Sabah
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:4 | 0 |
|
28
|
Feyenoord
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:6 | 0 |
|
29
|
Bodo Glimt
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3:9 | 0 |
|
30
|
AEK Athens
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
31
|
RB Leipzig
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:8 | 0 |
|
32
|
Fenerbahce
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:6 | 0 |
|
33
|
Viking
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2:6 | 0 |
|
34
|
Porto
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2:3 | 0 |
|
35
|
Lille
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0:3 | 0 |
|
36
|
Slovan Bratislava
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:10 | 0 |
