Malmö FF misses million rain in Champions League

Malmö FF's dream of the Champions League was extinguished in practice already at home in Skåne. Sparta Prague won the return match as well with 2–0 and advances to the fine dining room of club football with 4–0 overall. Malmö will have to console themselves with play in the Europa League. It's a great disappointment, says striker Isaac Kiese Thelin.

» Updated: August 31 2024

» Published: August 27 2024

Malmö FF misses million rain in Champions League
Photo: Petr David Josek/AP/TT

Malmö FF has played in the Champions League three times since 2014, but it will not be a fourth time.

The Scanians lost twice with 0-2 against Sparta Prague and MFF will now instead focus on playing in the Europa League for the fourth time since 2018. A spot that gives the club at least 98 million kronor in revenue. A spot in the Champions League would have given at least 212 million kronor.

It's tough in such matches. It doesn't take much. We have to score on our chances, says Isaac Kiese Thelin to Viaplay.

Two missed penalties

When Malmö last reached the Champions League – 2021 – it was the Serbian newcomer Veljko Birmancevic who was the deciding factor for the Scanians in the final qualifying round.

Now the Serb could have decided for his Sparta Prague already after a quarter of an hour. Then the home team was awarded a penalty after the French referee Clément Turpin deemed that the 19-year-old MFF defender Nils Zetterström had pulled down Asger Sørensen on a corner.

Forward came Birmancevic, but the 26-year-old shot the ball high over Johan Dahlin's goal.

Ten minutes later, Malmö got the chance to create real nervousness in the return match. Then the away team was awarded a penalty after Anders Christiansen was knocked down after a push in the back. The team captain took care of the penalty kick himself, but his Danish compatriot Peter Vindahl in the Prague goal made a fine save.

We're still in the match because they miss, then we're unlucky. They make a great save on our penalty, says Kiese Thelin.

Took the lead on a penalty

On the whole, it was mostly Prague that created something offensive during the first half. A bit into the second act, Malmö could establish some pressure, but it was fruitless in the decisive situations.

Instead, Prague could kill the tension in the 80th minute. MFF's Gabriel Busanello knocked down Ángelo Preciado in the penalty area and this time the approximately 18,000 spectators in the stands saw a penalty go into the goal through Lukás Haraslín.

Just three minutes later, Albion Rrahmani extended to 2-0 and Sparta Prague won the double match with 4-0 overall.

The draw for the Europa League takes place on Friday.

The old four-team groups with double matches against only three teams are being abolished in UEFA's three club competitions Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League from this season.

Instead, a form of group stage with 36 teams is being created, where a club meets eight different opponents, four matches are played at home and four away. In the Conference League, the teams only play six matches each in the group stage.

After the group stage, the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Teams 9-24 meet in a playoff over a double match to reach the round of 16. For teams that finish 25-36, it's game over.

The knockout matches up to and including the semifinal are decided just like now with a double match (home, away) – the final is decided over a single match.

2024-2025: Clear for league play in the Europa League.

2022-2023: Group play in the Europa League. Last in the group.

2021-2022: Group play in the Champions League. Last in the group.

2019-2020: Round of 16 in the Europa League, eliminated by Wolfsburg (1-5 overall). First in the group.

2018-2019: Round of 16 in the Europa League, eliminated by Chelsea (1-5 overall). Second in the group.

2015-2016: Group play in the Champions League. Last in the group.

2014-2015: Group play in the Champions League. Last in the group.

2011-2012: Group play in the Europa League. Last in the group.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

AIK Levels Semifinal with Karlskoga
2 MIN READ

AIK Levels Semifinal with Karlskoga Thanks to Fitzgerald's Four Goals

Timrå's Anton Lundmark Joins NHL
1 MIN READ

Timrå's Anton Lundmark Joins NHL Champion Florida for 2025 Season

Sweden Boosts Playoff Hopes with
1 MIN READ

Sweden Boosts Playoff Hopes with Key Win Over Scotland

Johan Hedberg Named New Head
1 MIN READ

Johan Hedberg Named New Head Coach of Leksand

Arsenal's Gabriel Out for Season
1 MIN READ

Arsenal's Gabriel Out for Season After Thigh Injury

Barcelona Wins Court Battle to
1 MIN READ

Barcelona Wins Court Battle to Register Olmo and Víctor

Ebba Andersson Dominates Swedish Ski
1 MIN READ

Ebba Andersson Dominates Swedish Ski Championship with Two-Minute Lead

Sweden to Host Algeria in
1 MIN READ

Sweden to Host Algeria in June Friendly at Strawberry Arena

Olympic Expansion Praised: Women's Football
3 MIN READ

Olympic Expansion Praised: Women's Football to Feature 16 Teams

Petter Northug's Olympic Comeback Hindered
2 MIN READ

Petter Northug's Olympic Comeback Hindered by Past Drug Conviction

Halfvarsson Struggles to 51st in
1 MIN READ

Halfvarsson Struggles to 51st in Swedish Ski Championship Opener

Norwegian Lise Klaveness Joins Uefa
2 MIN READ

Norwegian Lise Klaveness Joins Uefa Board as Andriy Shevchenko Misses Out

Finland Exits Bandy World Championship
1 MIN READ

Finland Exits Bandy World Championship Over Financial Strain

Federica Brignone Suffers Multiple Leg
1 MIN READ

Federica Brignone Suffers Multiple Leg Fractures in Ski Crash

FIFA Proposes Equalizing Men's and
1 MIN READ

FIFA Proposes Equalizing Men's and Women's Football Teams for 2028 Olympics

Henrik von Eckermann Eyes Historic
3 MIN READ

Henrik von Eckermann Eyes Historic Third Straight World Cup Title

USA and UK Poised to
1 MIN READ

USA and UK Poised to Host Expanded Women's World Championships

Swedish Football Boosts Support for
1 MIN READ

Swedish Football Boosts Support for National Team Parents with Young Kids

Verstappen Criticizes Red Bull's Quick
1 MIN READ

Verstappen Criticizes Red Bull's Quick Swap of Teammate Lawson

Vancouver's Playoff Hopes Dim After
2 MIN READ

Vancouver's Playoff Hopes Dim After 5-0 Loss to Seattle

Swedish Rookie Pelle Larsson Shines
2 MIN READ

Swedish Rookie Pelle Larsson Shines as Miami Ends Boston's Streak

Swedish Golf Faces Vote on
4 MIN READ

Swedish Golf Faces Vote on Club Membership Limits

Ovechkin Nears Gretzky's Record with
1 MIN READ

Ovechkin Nears Gretzky's Record with Goal Against Carolina

Mourinho's Nose Pinch Sparks Chaos
1 MIN READ

Mourinho's Nose Pinch Sparks Chaos in Istanbul Derby

Isak Scores 20th Goal as
1 MIN READ

Isak Scores 20th Goal as Tonali's Stunner Seals Newcastle Win

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Helsingborg Makes History as First Newcomer in SM Semifinals Since 1999

Djurgården Levels Semifinal in Tense
2 MIN READ

Djurgården Levels Semifinal in Tense 7-3 Win Over Södertälje

Jörgen Jönsson Steps Down as
1 MIN READ

Jörgen Jönsson Steps Down as Växjö Coach After Three Seasons

Färjestad's David Tomasek Heads to
2 MIN READ

Färjestad's David Tomasek Heads to NHL After Stellar SHL Season

Swedish Athletes Honored by King,
1 MIN READ

Swedish Athletes Honored by King, Duplantis Absent for Training

La Liga Blocks Barcelona from
2 MIN READ

La Liga Blocks Barcelona from Registering Dani Olmo

Cornelia Kapocs' National Team Call-Up
2 MIN READ

Cornelia Kapocs' National Team Call-Up Goes Viral with Heartwarming Video

Swedish Riders Aim to Defend
2 MIN READ

Swedish Riders Aim to Defend Titles at Basel Equestrian Finals

Möregårdh Cruises to Second Round
1 MIN READ

Möregårdh Cruises to Second Round in WTT Champions Tournament

Karlskoga's Måns Krämer Suspended Three
1 MIN READ

Karlskoga's Måns Krämer Suspended Three Games for Head Tackle

Jörgen Persson Takes on New
1 MIN READ

Jörgen Persson Takes on New Role as Saudi Arabia's Table Tennis Coach

Dani Alves Acquittal Faces Appeal
1 MIN READ

Dani Alves Acquittal Faces Appeal by Spanish Prosecutors

Ida Dahl Opens Up About
1 MIN READ

Ida Dahl Opens Up About Her Struggles After Skiing Success

Ancelotti Denies Fraud Charges in
1 MIN READ

Ancelotti Denies Fraud Charges in Madrid Court Over Tax Allegations

Sweden Loses UEFA Influence as
3 MIN READ

Sweden Loses UEFA Influence as Norway Gains Ground