In the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round, Swedish side Mjallby AIF host Slovak side Slovan Bratislava at Strandvallen in Hallevik 4 August 2026 at 17:00 BST.
In the previous round, Mjallby AIF were frankly lucky to draw the champions of Gibraltar, who were almost impossible not to get past. Against the experienced European campaigners Slovan Bratislava, the Swedish surprise package will have a much tougher time.
Mjallby AIF are not just playing in the Champions League, even if only qualifying, for the first time in a long while — they are trying their luck in European competition for the first time in their history. Previously, this village team had been low-profile even by Swedish standards. It feels as though Slovan Bratislava should get past them easily.
The team that stirred Europe under Anders Torstensson will make their European debut under his assistant, Karl Marius Aksum. Mjallby AIF continue to play in a 3-4-3 system, with a physical, fairly simple style of football based on strict defensive discipline, quick transitions in attack and a minimum of unnecessary touches. Above all, Slovan Bratislava's players will need to close down captain Jesper Gustavsson, who links defence and attack. The main threat, though, will come from Elliot Stroud, who both creates attacks and finishes them (10+5 in last season's Swedish league), and winger Aki Samuelsen, who scored two goals against Lincoln Red Imps. The Faroese player can appear on either flank.
Slovan Bratislava have something to offer too. Firstly, they have experience of playing against the continent's strongest teams. In the 2024/25 season, they faced Manchester City, Milan, Atletico, Bayern and others. Last season, they met Kairat (did not get through), Young Boys (did not get through), Strasbourg and AZ Alkmaar in the league phase of the Conference League. The Bratislava side will approach the first game strategically. Their main task is not to fall too far behind before the home match, where they generally lose only to European giants. The team are now coached by Yaya Toure, and he has an excellent understanding of how to build a well-layered defence. The visitors will wait for chances on the counterattack, as they did previously in Tbilisi (33% possession against Iberia).
Mjallby AIF do not have huge resources with which to break down that kind of defence. The hosts will hope for set pieces, where they are strong. But a game between two defensively disciplined teams could turn into a goalless draw.
Nicholas Walsh (Scotland)
Matches – 10 (international matches, 2025–2026);
Average fouls per match – 25;
Average yellow cards per match (including second yellows) – 4.4;
Matches with red cards – 0 out of 10;
Matches with penalties – 3 out of 10.
|
Andreas Brännström
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Robin Lars Wallinder
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Abdullah Iqbal
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ludvig Oliver Svanberg
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tom Peder Pettersson
|
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 |
|
Axel Vilhelm Lindberg Norén
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ian Jakob Hoffmann
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Martin Agnarsson
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Max Klarlund Nielsen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Tony Miettinen
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Lars Ludvig Nicholas Tidstrand
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Per Olle Elton Lindberg
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Romeo Arrhenius Leandersson
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Abdoulie Manneh
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Ali Ben Safouane Youssef
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Bork Classønn Bang-Kittilsen
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Yaya Touré
|
coach | ||
| Player | Matches | Goals | |
|
Line-up
|
|||
|
Dominik Takáč
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
César Rodolfo Blackman Camarena
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kenan Bajrič
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Sandro Plínio Rosa da Cruz
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Svetozar Marković
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alasana Yirajang
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alexej Maroš
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Artur Gajdoš
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Cristian Jesús Martínez
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Peter Pokorný
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Mykola Kuharevich
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Substitutes
|
|||
|
Matúš Teo Tomáško
|
0 | 0 | |
|
Aleksandar Popović
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Matúš Macík
|
gk. | 0 | 0 |
|
Kevin Wimmer
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Samuel Kozlovský
|
df. | 0 | 0 |
|
Alen Mustafić
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Daiki Matsuoka
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Danylo Ihnatenko
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
L. Hofstädter
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Rash Rahim Ibrahim
|
mf. | 0 | 0 |
|
Manasse Kianga
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
|
Suleiman Camara Sanneh
|
fw. | 0 | 0 |
Lincoln Red Imps
Mjällby
Kalmar FF
Mjällby
Mjällby
Lincoln Red Imps
Mjällby
Mjällby
AIK
IK Sirius
Mjällby
IFK Goteborg
Mjällby
Elfsborg
Mjällby
Mjällby
BK Häcken
Mjällby
Slovan Bratislava
Iberia 1999
Iberia 1999
Slovan Bratislava
Slovan Bratislava
BK Häcken
Shkendija
Slovan Bratislava
Slovan Bratislava
Rayo Vallecano
KuPS
Slovan Bratislava
AZ Alkmaar
Slovan Bratislava
Slovan Bratislava
Strasbourg
BSC Young Boys
Slovan Bratislava
Slovan Bratislava
BSC Young Boys
| # | 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 |
