Malmo FF vs FC Shakhtar Donetsk - Malmo and Shakhtar hunt for first Champions League points - 7M sport

Malmo FF vs FC Shakhtar Donetsk - Malmo and Shakhtar hunt for first Champions League points



Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2015 by PA

Malmo and Shakhtar Donetsk will battle it out at the Swedbank Stadion on Wednesday with both sides looking for a first victory in the Champions League this season.

The two clubs head into the Group A match having lost their opening games to Real Madrid and Paris St Germain.

Shakhtar have progressed to the knockout round on three of the last five attempts and reached the quarter-finals of the competition in the 2010/11 campaign.

A win in Sweden is a must if the Ukrainian giants are to have any chance of progressing to the last 16.

"This game is very important for both teams but it's crucial for us," Shakhtar defender Ismaily said on his club's official website. "We really need a victory.

"We need the right approach to this game. I'm sure the motivation of Malmo and Shakhtar will be sky-high."

In their two Champions League defeats, Shakhtar have failed to score while conceding seven goals.

"We have to show our best qualities and the one making fewer mistakes will win," Ismaily said.

Shakhtar warmed up for the encounter in Sweden with Friday's 3-0 victory at Dynamo Kiev which lifted them to the top of the Ukrainian Premier League standings.

They are level on 28 points with Dynamo after 11 games played.

"It was virtually a flawless performance from my players," Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu said on his club's official website. "The result could have been even greater, we could have scored more goals.

"Prior to that game, I reminded the players about the matches against Real Madrid and PSG.

"If we do not take into account the goals we conceded because of errors, we can say that our games against those giants were pretty even."

Malmo made their Champions League group stage debut last season and have lost their last six encounters in the competition.

Age Hareide's side were 2-0 losers in Paris before falling by the same scoreline at home to Real Madrid in the last round.

The Swedes won 3-0 at home to Kalmar to climb to fifth in the domestic league, nine points adrift of leaders Norrkoping with two games remaining.

The hosts will be without defender Yoshimar Yotun, who is suspended, while midfielder Guillermo Molins will be sidelined with a knee problem. However, they welcome the return of midfielder Taras Stepanenko from suspension.



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