PAOK vs Malmo FF Prediction 13.08.2024 | Champions League

• Competition: UEFA Champions League - Qualifying
• Date: Tuesday, 13th, August 2024
• Kickoff: 18:30 UK / 19.30 CEST
• Venue: Toumba Stadium (Thessaloniki)

PAOK and Malmo will battle it out at Toumba Stadium in Tuesday’s second leg of their Champions League qualifying round, with the victor earning a spot in the playoff round.

In one of the most thrilling first-leg encounters last week, PAOK erased two separate deficits to hold Malmo to a 2-2 stalemate at the Elada Stadium, meaning the ultimate victor of this tie will be determined in Thessaloniki.

PAOK vs Malmo FF Betting Tips: BTTS

Since both teams start from scratch and have no need to chase a result in the decisive second leg, we believe the approach will be more cautious than last week, but even with such a game plan, we expect both sides to find their way onto the scoresheet. Following a troubled preseason with four defeats out of five friendlies, the Thessaloniki side has maintained a pattern of erratic performances, clearly showcased in their previous qualifying round where they struggled to overcome Borac Banja Luka. 

Without a doubt, shoring up their defense is crucial for PAOK if they want to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time in their history, as conceding four goals in three official matches this season and only one clean sheet in their last 10 games of any format clearly indicates that their backline is not performing as it should. To be fair, Malmo's back-four performance isn't much to be proud of either, with Saturday's 1-0 win over Halmstad the only time they've kept their net intract in the previous 10 competitive matches, they've leaked six times across their intial three European fixtures of the new season. While they have undeniable firepower in the final third, the struggles of both teams at the opposite end of the pitch are as clear as day, so it would be a real surprise if BTTS are not involved in this intriguing contest.