Greg . 20 hours ago

Malmo and Copenhagen play out stalemate to keep playoff tie in the balance

Malmo and FC Copenhagen crushed out a 0-0 sketch at the Eleda Stadion, with the hosts left feeling somewhat relieved after restricting their stronger visitors to just a single shot on target, despite an array of opportunities for the Danish outfit.

Although this game perhaps couldn’t be perceived as a derby clash in the usual sense, the close proximity of these two nations – who are separated only by the Oresund Strait – meant there was potential for a snapped of needle in this qualifying battle.

As hosts for this leg, there was an element of pressure on Malmo to seize the initiative, and they came close to doing so inside the opening 10 minutes, when Taha Ali curled over from just outside the area.

To say the first half was a non-event would be something of an understatement, with neither side creating any meaningful sightings of goal.

It was the Swedes doing most of the running, but they struggled to breach a Copenhagen side seen as pre-tie favourites to progress.

And they were almost caught cold by the Danes as the interval moved toward, when the ball rebounded favourably to Mohamed Elyounoussi, but his wicked steer was repelled by Robin Olsen.

 Malmo - Copenhagen match statsBetopickThe second half pursued a similar pattern, with the pair continuing to struggle to make inroads in the final third.

In a rare moment of excitement, Elias Achouri curled an effort wide as he tried to shatter the deadlock for the Danes, but his skewed execution was somewhat symptomatic of the struggles both sides were facing.

 Achouri was the visitor’s main bright spark, firing two more efforts on goal but again missing his mark.

The 80-minute mark reached with the shot on target tally standing at just one, highlighting just how void this game was of attacking talent.

The tie was never likely to be decided this evening, and next week’s second leg in Copenhagen now takes on extra significance with it now being a winner-takes-all clash.

The Danes will at least be grateful for home advantage in the second leg, but this tie hangs firmly in the balance.

 Betopick Man of the Match: Elias Achouri (Copenhagen)Check out all the match stats with Betopick.