The first leg of the 2025/26 Champions League second qualifying round between RFS (Latvia) and Malmö (Sweden) will take place on July 22 at the LNK Sportpark in Riga. RFS vs. Malmö: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Miloš Milanović (Serbia)
Matches – 9 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 38;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.2;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 22%.
As Rigas Futbola Skola prepare to host Malmö FF in Riga for their Champions League second qualifying round opener, Malmö seems to be somewhat undervalued. Despite ongoing injury concerns within the squad, their commanding aggregate win (6:2) in the previous round demonstrated that they remain a potent force.
By contrast, Rigas Futbola Skola found their passage past FCI Levadia Tallinn (2:0 on aggregate) far from convincing. Although they secured progression, expectations were higher for a squad with prior Europa League group stage experience. In the home leg against Levadia Tallinn, the team spent extended periods under pressure, registering just four shots to their opponents’ 14. Domestically, RFS continue to trail Riga FC in the title race, making focus across both competitions essential.
Since the start of the Champions League qualifiers, Malmö FF have looked reinvigorated. They have strung together four consecutive wins in both European and domestic competitions since 8 July, scoring 11 and conceding just 3. Their latest success came on Saturday against Östers IF (2:0), with a goal and an assist from one of their key players. The team generated 1.18 xG in that match, underlining their attacking efficiency. The absence of key personnel in goal is unlikely to significantly impact their European ambitions at this stage.
When these teams met in a friendly back in December, it ended in a narrow 1:0 win for Malmö FF. This time around, Malmö FF are expected to come out on top once again, thanks to their superior overall quality.
