Both clubs lost their opening group stage matches to more reputable opponents, but Qarabağ played away, while Malmö played at home. They are currently outside the playoff zone, but a win could elevate either team.
The Azerbaijani club lost to Tottenham Hotspur (0:3), despite playing with a numerical advantage from the seventh minute, when the referee sent off Radu Drăgușin for a last-man foul. By that point, they were already 1:0 down. The defeat can be attributed to a lack of skills, as Qarabağ created plenty of chances. They missed a penalty, hit the woodwork twice, and had shots just inches away, giving them a higher xG than the hosts (2.19-1.42). However, most of these chances came in the second half when Tottenham Hotspur had already secured a comfortable two-goal lead.
Like Qarabağ, Malmö conceded the first goal to Rangers in their opening Europa League game quite early (in the 12th minute), which disrupted their game plan. Unlike the Azerbaijani side, they failed to create even half as many dangerous chances. The Swedish team managed only seven off-target shots with zero on target, resulting in a low xG (0.44), despite having 60% possession. In the last 15 minutes, Rangers scored a second goal, settling the contest.
Yes, Qarabağ had a numerical advantage but played away and still created chances when opportunities arose, whereas Malmö were helpless even at home. Plus, Rangers are not as strong as Tottenham Hotspur. Therefore, we are confident that Qarabağ will come out stronger, especially with the support of a full stadium.
