Union Berlin vs Malmo FF Predictions

• Union Berlin have won four of their last six games to nil.
• Malmo have failed to score in their last three matches.
• Malmo’s xG has been 0.8 or smaller in all three of their Europa League group games.

Malmo may be a no-show again

Malmo’s current bout of impotence makes them easy to oppose for Thursday’s Europa League Group D trip to Berlin to face in-form Union.

The Swedish champions have failed to score in their last three matches, all of which were at home. Admittedly, the Blues have been more prolific on the road since August – but they are going up against the Bundesliga’s best defence.

Union sit on top of the pile in Germany thanks to a succession of clean sheets – now numbering four in their last six games. Urs Fischer’s side have developed the happy knack of scoring late in games too – as they did with a second-half effort from Sheraldo becker last week.

Berlin hosts are miserly in defence 

The team that has scored first has won the last seven games in which they have played, which suggests the first goal will be all important here. Malmo’s misfiring front line will need to rediscover their shooting boots quickly and it’s logical to expect the hosts to come through with a clean sheet instead.

Malmo’s xG has been 0.8 or smaller in all three of their Europa League group games – but they did manage to catch Union SG out with a couple of goals in Belgium last month.

However, this Union’s character is very different to the Belgians, who are involved in numerous BTTS affairs, so the play remains backing a home win to nil and most probably another 1-0 to the German pacesetters. Three of their last four wins have been by 1-0 scorelines and the other, a 2-0, was 1-0 until the 77th minute.