Seeking an end to their three-game winless streak, Malmo welcome Allsvenskan strugglers Varnamo to Eleda Stadion on Monday evening.
After two losses were followed by a draw at AIK last week, Henrik Rydstrom's side sit third in the standings, while their visitors are involved in a battle at the bottom.
Match preview
Despite dominating possession and preventing their hosts having a single shot on target, Malmo were unable to halt a frustrating run of results, which has seen them slip four points behind leaders Elfsborg in the Allsvenskan table, as they were held goalless by AIK last time out.
Having recently been beaten 2-1 at home by Mjallby and then suffered a 2-0 defeat to Djurgarden, the 2020 and 2021 Swedish champions - who finished an unsatisfactory seventh last term - are amid one of their worst runs of the season.
Malmo had lost only one league game previously, so head coach Henrik Rydstrom will be particularly keen to put a stop to his side's slump on Monday.
Taha Ali's brace helped to secure all three points when Di Blae last encountered their next opponents, with Sebastian Nanasi also helping himself to a late goal in last month's reverse fixture at Finnvedsvallen.
Although their form has waned since, Malmo remain in the race for the Allsvenskan title - a 23rd in their proud history - and have at least one game in hand on each of their main rivals.
No team has conceded fewer goals in this year's Swedish top flight, but in spite of their lowly status in the standings, Varnamo have only shipped six more than their illustrious hosts so far this season.
After conceding four times and picking up just a point from their previous two outings, the 2021 Superettan winners managed to steady the ship by securing a 1-0 home win over high-flying Hacken last Saturday, when Simon Thern's stoppage-time strike separated the sides.
Even accounting for that rare success at Finnvedsvallen, Kim Hellberg's men still have a superior away record to that when playing hosts this term, so they may travel south in a confident mood despite sitting a lowly 11th in the table.
However, Varnamo have lost each of their last three matches against Malmo in all competitions, and they will certainly start as outsiders to prevail on Monday evening.
Team News
While Norwegian midfielder Lasse Berg Johnsen arrived at Malmo from Danish club Randers earlier this month, a knee problem has kept him ruled out of action so far, and he may miss out again on Monday.
Aston Villa academy product Moustafa Zeidan has now departed for the UAE on loan, while Denmark midfielder Anders Christiansen is still unavailable for selection due to injury.
Pontus Jansson should captain the hosts from centre-back, with lone striker Isaac Kiese Thelin leading the line in a probable 4-2-3-1 formation.
Varnamo will have Victor Eriksson back in their defence at Eleda Stadion, so either Emin Grozdanic or Victor Larsson is expected to drop to the bench.
Wenderson continues alongside last week's matchwinner Simon Thern in midfield, with William Kenndal out injured for the long-term; meanwhile, Gustav Engvall should be joined by Djurgarden loanee Albion Ademi and Ajdin Zeljkovic in attack.
Malmo possible starting lineup:
Dahlin; Ceesay, Moisander, Jansson, Busanello; Lewicki, Pena; Ali, Nanasi, Rieks; Kiese Thelin
Varnamo possible starting lineup:
Vaitsiakhovich; Winsth, Eriksson, Grozdanic, Bergh; Nasstrom, Wenderson, Thern; Engvall, Zeljkovic, Ademi
We say: Malmo 1-0 Varnamo
Even though Varnamo have proved no pushovers on the road, a motivated Malmo side has a point to prove following recent results - and they can move within one point of top spot with victory on Monday. A record of six wins from eight at home this year also confirms that the hosts are justifiable favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
