Sweden and Malta face in Friends Arena, in a match for this phase of the Qualification Round for the European Championship (Qualifying Round). There is no recent record of direct confrontations between these two teams, who have not played any matches in the last 3 years. The last time they met, on 09-09-2009, in a match that ended with the final score: Malta (0-1) Sweden. Attention to the home factor, since Sweden usually conquer different results at home and abroad.
Sweden:
The home team comes to this 3rd round of Group F in the 2nd position, with 4 points won, after 1 win and 1 draw. In their first match in this group stage they won at home against Romania, by (2-1). In the 2nd round, they drew away against Norway by (3-3). This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses in away matches, with 21 goals scored and 18 conceded; against 9 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses at their stadium, with 31 goals scored and 10 conceded. In the last 10 home matches Sweden has won 4, tied 3 and lost 3. Their attack has scored regularly, since they have scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches. In the last 13 home matches for all competitions there is 1 period that stands out: they have suffered 4 of their 10 goals between minutes (76′-90 ‘).
The Swedish team is second in its group of European Championship qualifiers and its next match will be against Malta. Sweden needs to win if they do not want to lose places for rivals, as Malta’s own team, if they win, will steal their place in the table. However, the Swedish team is quite strong and it will not be easy to beat him in his domains. They will be waiting for the selection of Malta with their faithful supporter next door and will use it in their favor. The Swedes are very confident that they will manage to stay in the lead and get the qualification. In the previous match, Sweden drew away from home for the result of 3×3 against the Norwegian team.
Malta:
After 1 victories, 0 draws and 1 loss, the away team comes to this 3 rd round in the 4th position of Group F, with 3 points won. In the previous match, they lost at home against Spain by (0-2), after in the first match of this group stage they won by (2-1) at home against the Faroe Islands. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 1 win, 3 draws and 11 losses in away matches, with 7 goals scored and 34 conceded; against 1 win, 4 draws and 10 losses at their stadium, with 7 goals scored and 31 conceded. In the last 9 away matches Malta has tied 2 and lost 7. Their defense has not been very strong, since they have suffered at least one goal in each of the last 10 matches, but their attack has scored regularly, since he scored goals in 7 of the last 10 matches. In their home matches there is a tendency for goals, since 8 of the last 9 matches have ended with Over 1,5 goals. In 15 games, he never got the comeback in the 11 games in which he suffered the first goal.
The selection of Malta will have a difficult mission ahead, because it will face the second classified of the group, Sweden. However, he needs to win to reach the qualifying zone. It will not save efforts to leave Sweden with the victory and steal the position of the Swedes in the group table, which is possible. The Malta coach will present on the field what is best in his squad. Although he is playing away from his dominions, this selection will go in search of a positive result and only the victory interests him. In its last match it suffered a defeat in house by 2×0 in front of the powerful Spanish selection, the leader of the group.
