Champions League
2025-08-12 - Copenhagen vs Malmo
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round Second Leg
Tuesday 12th August 2025 - Kick Off 6pm
Preview
There is always going to be a big rivalry when Swedish and Danish teams meet in European competition and this Third Qualifying Round tie has been left finely balanced following the goalless draw last week.
You have to believe that Copenhagen are going to be the much happier team of the two following that result in Malmo, while the players may feel they could have earned the lead with a bit more composure in the final third.
There is going to be some pressure on the home players, especially after losing the last Danish League fixture here a few days ago, but the fans can lift Copenhagen to a success. In recent years, Copenhagen have found their way through the Qualifying Rounds of whichever UEFA competition they have started in and that has resulted in two appearances in the Group Stage of the Champions League and two in the Conference League, including last season.
Being able to manage their way through the Qualifying Rounds has to be respected and will make Copenhagen favourites to progress to a tie against Basel.
Prior to the defeat to Aarhus this past Friday, Copenhagen had been unbeaten in 7 at home in all competitions and had won 6 of those matches. They were undone by a clinical visitor most recently here, but there is every reason to believe they can get back on the horse and return to winning ways.
Like their opponent, Malmo were suffering a home loss this past weekend and that will have dented the confidence of the players, even if they were perhaps more focused on this Second Leg. They will also feel they deserved more from that game, but it is another setback in the bid to get back into the Swedish title race.
Malmo do make the short journey to Copenhagen unbeaten in 6 away games in all competitions and they have won 4 in a row on their travels. That includes away wins in both Champions League ties played this season against Iberia 1999 and RFS, although the away team will be well aware that Copenhagen represent a marked upward shift in level of opponent.
They did lost 2 of 3 away Qualifiers played twelve months ago, although Malmo reached the Play Off Round of the Champions League, while they were then beaten in 2 of 4 away Europa League games during the new look Group Stage. During that time, Malmo did earn a win over Qarabag, but the key for the team will be making life difficult on Copenhagen and hoping the home fans are frustrated enough to make the players feel the nerves.
These two clubs were in the same Europa League Group in the 2019/20 season and it was Malmo who earned four points from the two meetings. They will take some confidence from the fact that three of those points were earned at Copenhagen in a 0-1 victory.
Prediction
Both of these teams suffered home League defeats this past weekend, but both will feel they played better than the final result would suggest.
It is perhaps the fact that this Third Qualifying Round tie is so finely balanced that served as a distraction and a more focused response is expected from both Copenhagen and Malmo.
Home advantage should be an edge for Copenhagen considering the form here over a number of months. They should have respect for the Malmo away performances in the previous two Qualifying Rounds, but the Swedish Champions have not been in the best overall form domestically and it may be tough to contain the home team.
Last week Copenhagen were the better team and they should be able to show that on the scoreboard on Tuesday.
Nothing is ever easy with the League Phase fast approaching and players perhaps thinking ahead to what might be, but Copenhagen should have just enough quality to find a way past Malmo in this Second Leg.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Copenhagen 2-0 Malmo
