Malmo FF vs Genk Predictions

Malmo host Genk on Thursday night in a very competitive Group A. 3 points separate top and bottom of the league after 4 rounds of fixtures with Malmo currently sitting 3rd after picking up 5 points. A win here would lift them above Genk who currently sit top of the group and give them a great chance of progressing, a loss here and Genk are through.

Genk travel to Sweden top of Group I and their destiny is in their own hands now, a win and they are through to the knock out stages but should they lose then they could find themselves 3rd, such is the nature of this tightly contested group. They have picked up 7 points from their 4 games this campaign after 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss.

Malmo finished 3rd in their domestic season after solid campaign and can now turn all attentions to their European exploits. They lost to Genk 2-0 away from home in game week 1 but bounced back with an impressive 2-0 home win against Besiktas. Since then they have drawn 1-1 both home and away to Sarpsborg and those results have set up an exciting conclusion to the group.

Genk will be pleased with their performance so far but will be mindful a bad result here could put them in trouble. They have beaten Malmo 2-0 at home and Besiktas 4-2 away whilst losing to Sarpsborg 3-1 away from home and drawing to Besiktas 1-1 at home. Whilst they do score plenty their defence is leaky and they don’t head into this game with the best of confidence after suffering their first domestic league defeat of the season losing 2-1 at home to a Cercle Brugge side who do not travel well at all.

Malmo had a tough start to life in the Europa League losing 4 of their opening 5 home games in the competition but since then they have been much improved. They are unbeaten in their last 7 home games in the competition after 3 wins and 4 draws.

Genk travel very well in the Europa League in general, winning 6 of their last 9 away games in the competition, drawing 1 and losing 2. Their scoring form is staggering, they have scored 2 or more goals in each of their last 13 consecutive away Europa League games, a truly remarkable record considering they have played sides like Athletic Bilbao, Sassuolo, Celta Vigo and Besiktas in that run.

Genk’s scoring record is really hard to ignore when this is a “win and you progress game”. The bookmakers are pricing Genk to score 2 or more goals at around even money, a great price considering it has landed in their last 13 away from home. They do struggle to keep the ball out of their own net however, conceding in each of their last 8 Europa League away games. We see Malmo getting on the score sheet but just falling short and can see something around a 2-1 Genk win as a correct score prediction.