Värnamo vs Malmö Prediction: The hosts hope for a first win over their visitors

Värnamo and Malmö will settle scores at the Finnvedsvallen on Monday in the third round of the Sweden Allsvenskan. Värnamo have never defeated Malmö in their history. Can they break this record here? Below are previews, possible starting 11, expert betting tips, and odds.

Värnamo

Värnamo will be looking to bounce back from their recent 2-1 defeat against GAIS at their home venue. In that match, all three goals were scored in the first half, with Alexander Holmstrom and William Milovanovic finding the net for GAIS, while Ajdin Zeljkovic converted a penalty to halve the deficit for Värnamo. Currently, Värnamo sit in 12th place with just one point earned so far. They face a tough challenge as they aim to secure their first-ever win against Malmo. A victory would not only be significant for Värnamo but would also mark the first defeat for Anes Mravac's Malmo side in any competition this season.

Malmo

Malmo secured a routine 2-0 home victory over Hammarby, with Sweden international Isaac Kiese Thelin shining with a brace. This win helped Malmo maintain their position at the top of the standings, with maximum points from two games. Malmo's impressive start extends to a seven-game unbeaten run, including four consecutive wins. They are also excelling in cup competitions, having secured a spot in the Svenska Cupen final against Djurgarden next month. Alongside Sirius, Malmo is one of the only two teams with a perfect 100% start to the league season.

Notably, Malmo have a strong historical record against Varnamo in the league, having never lost to them in six encounters. They have emerged victorious in four of these matches and drawn twice. Isaac Thelin's exceptional form makes him a key player to watch in the upcoming game, having scored seven goals and provided two assists in just six games this season.

Possible Starting 11

Varnamo – Viktor Andersson, Victor Larsson, Johan Rapp, Samuel Kotto, Viktor Bergh, Carl Johansson, William Kenndal, Wenderson, Simon Thern, Ajdin Zeljkovic, Gustav Engvall.

Malmo FF – Johan Dahlin, Jens Larsen, Derek Cornelius, Pontus Jansson, Busanello, Taha Abdi Ali, Sergio Peña, Lasse Berg Johnsen, Sebastian Nanasi, Erik Botheim, Isaac Kiese Thelin.

Expert Betting Tips

Malmo are indeed strong favorites, especially given their emphatic start to the season, which has undoubtedly boosted their confidence. It's reasonable to expect Malmo to secure maximum points with a routine win and potentially keep a clean sheet.

Malmo have scored at least two goals in six out of the seven competitive games they have played this season. Additionally, their recent head-to-head record against their upcoming opponent suggests a favorable outcome, with Malmo winning four and drawing two of the last six meetings. In their most recent encounter in July 2023, Malmo claimed a convincing 3-1 home victory.

• Over 2.5 for 1.60 odds
• BTTS-NO for 1.80 odds
• HT: W2 for 1.73 odds