This Europa League tie at Eleda Stadion was defined by FK Crvena Zvezda’s controlled possession against Malmo FF’s reactive 4-4-2. The visitors held 59% of the ball and completed 610 passes at 85% accuracy, compared to Malmo’s 433 passes at 78%. That superiority in circulation allowed Crvena Zvezda’s 4-1-4-1 to dictate tempo and territory, especially before and just after the interval. Malmo, with only 41% possession, were forced into a compact mid-block, looking more to contain than to press high. The game’s flow became one where Zvezda controlled the ball and positional structure, while Malmo tried to protect space and wait for transition moments that rarely materialised.
Offensive Efficiency
The attacking contrast was stark. Crvena Zvezda produced 12 total shots to Malmo’s 4, with a clear qualitative edge: 6 efforts from inside the box and 4 shots on target for the visitors versus just 2 shots inside the box and 0 on target for the hosts. The expected goals underline this gap: 1.67 xG for Zvezda against only 0.42 for Malmo, pointing to a game plan built on steady chance creation rather than isolated breaks.
Seven corner kicks for Crvena Zvezda against Malmo’s three show how often the away side sustained pressure in the final third. Their 4-1-4-1, with Marko Arnautović as the lone forward supported by a line of four midfielders, repeatedly pinned Malmo back, forcing clearances and set-piece opportunities. Malmo’s 4 total shots, with 2 blocked, suggest that when they did reach shooting positions, they were under immediate pressure, unable to generate clean looks. The absence of a single shot on goal from the home side reflects a lack of cutting edge and difficulty in progressing through Zvezda’s midfield screen, rather than a counter-attacking masterplan that failed only in finishing.
Defensive Discipline & Intensity
Despite the territorial imbalance, Malmo kept the scoreline narrow through defensive organisation rather than last-ditch heroics. Goalkeeper Melker Ellborg made 3 saves, a modest figure given Zvezda’s 4 shots on target, indicating that many of the visitors’ attempts were either off target or from controlled situations rather than chaotic scrambles.
The foul count was relatively balanced—13 for Malmo and 12 for Crvena Zvezda—showing an intense but not overly cynical contest. Two yellow cards for Malmo and one for Zvezda point to occasional tactical fouls, especially as Malmo chased the game in the second half. With only 2 offsides against Zvezda and 0 against Malmo, neither side relied heavily on stretching the line with constant runs in behind; Zvezda instead focused on structured possession and combination play around the box.
Conclusion
Ultimately, FK Crvena Zvezda’s controlled possession and steady chance creation (12 shots, 1.67 xG, 7 corners) overcame Malmo FF’s low-output, containment approach (4 shots, 0 on target, 0.42 xG). Efficiency in constructing meaningful attacks, rather than sheer volume of possession, decided a match where the visitors managed both ball and space more effectively.
