This week's sports template: MFF - Real Madrid
Malmö hosts the Spanish giants in the home opener of the Champions League. Olé!
What: Malmö FF- Real MadridWhere: Swedbank Stadion, Malmö
When: Wednesday 20:45 (broadcast on TV3 & Viaplay)
Why: Group stage (A) of the Champions League
Background: Welcoming Real Madrid to their home ground in the Champions League is like having the football world's finest guest for dinner. No club is as victorious, big, wealthy and shiny as the Madrid 'meringues'. They will not only win, but do it in style. They will have the biggest stars and the fattest deals. Real Madrid is the benchmark for all other football clubs in terms of success. Every team that faces Real plays the game of the year. In other words, it's a big night in Malmö on Wednesday.
The teams: Madrid only drew 0-0 at home to Malaga at the weekend and are third in the table without a loss. Both Sergio Ramos and Gareth Bale rested and are uncertain cards for Wednesday. Otherwise, most of the talk in Real is about Cristiano Ronaldo's "mine crisis". The Portuguese has "only" scored five goals in the league in six games, but they all came in the same game and there have been many mistakes. In the first group stage match against Shakthar, however, he scored three, so a goal drought in the Champions League cannot be said to be.
Malmö also played 0-0 at the weekend, away against Halmstad and is now basically out of the gold medal race. Light injuries to Rasmus Bengtsson, Molins and Mehmeti are a concern ahead of the meeting with the Spaniards.
The match: Real, with new coach Rafael Benitez at the helm, is a team with fewer goals at the back and so far a bit more edgy going forward. The offense has faltered considerably in some games. But it seems unlikely that Ronaldo and co will not manage to score against MFF. For Malmö's part, it's about keeping it tight as long as possible and avoiding early mistakes like in Paris. Put your money on the Spaniards.
