On 22 July 2025, the LNK Sports Stadium will play host to Swedish champions Malmö FF. Our own Frank Marr caught up with Swedish football journalist and Malmö fan Josip Ladan.
Malmö FF: a century of swagger—plus a few scars
Born in 1910 when a gang of working-class lads felt shut out of Sweden’s polite football set-up, Malmö FF have become the nation’s serial medallists: an invincible domestic season in the 1950s, 25 league titles overall, and a 1979 European Cup final that still carries a whiff of Brian Clough’s cigar. Through every era they’ve kept a “club of the people” pulse: supporter democracy, anti-modern-football activism and a refusal to apologise for either.
The Manager – Henrik Rydström—the activist in a tracksuit
The Malmö coach is part philosopher, part firebrand. Three seasons, two titles and still critics grumble about his stubbornness to stick to Plan A. Usually he starts in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, then shifts to a 3-5-2 if he sniffs blood on the flanks. Forwards enjoy almost painter-in-residence freedom, but heaven help the player who loses the ball without triggering Rydström’s six-second press. Should tempers flare in Riga, pay attention to the touchline quotes as much as the football.
How the Swedes actually play
Malmö love to pass and play pint-point long-passes: a handball-style weave from touchline to touchline that teases full-backs out before slinging the killer ball. In Allsvenskan they hog the ball north of 60 percent, with full-backs squatting in opposition territory. When possession flips, they’ll spring a situational press—and against bigger fish they’re perfectly happy to sit off, pinch the ball and launch one-touch diagonals (often aimed at Taha Ali). Corner kicks remain brutal: skipper Pontus Jansson, almost two metres tall, attacks the near post like a runaway tram.
Why Malmö fancy themselves
There’s structure down the spine of the team: Jansson’s Premier-League-hardened grit now pairs with pacey newcomer Andrej Djuric, and together they give up less than a goal a game. Ahead of them Norwegian duracell Lasse Berg Johnsen covers 14 km most weekends, hoovering up loose balls and threading first-time passes through tight seams. Add ex-futsal maverick Taha Ali on the wing—always one swivel from stardom—and a dressing room seasoned by back-to-back Swedish titles, and you understand the confidence.
Where RFS can make them wobble
Yet the armour isn’t flawless. A broken ankle has parked first-choice striker Erik Bøtheim, leaving Isaac Kiese Thelin lonely up top. Over-eager left-back Gabriel Busanello leaves tempting acreage behind him—and the Brazilian’s lunge-first instincts flirt with amber cards. Shut down Malmö’s left-flank circulation and they sometimes look unsure where to go next. And with several wide men on the wrong side of thirty, the legs can betray them after 80 minutes.
Five Malmö players to watch
- Pontus Jansson (CB) – Aerial menace, vocal organiser, dark arts diploma, deadly in a set-piece.
- Lasse Berg Johnsen (CM) – Endless engine, metronome of every Malmö move.
- Taha Ali (LW) – Futsal-trained chaos merchant; one dribble from a headline, more often used as a super-sub.
- Andrej Djuric (CB) – New signing, adds recovery speed and extra set-piece bite.
- Kenan Busuladzic (RW) – Teen wild-card off the bench; fearless one-versus-ones.
The Baltic game plan
For RFS the blueprint is clear: cement a back five, jam the central lanes and deny Berg Johnsen time to turn. Hammer early balls into the space Busanello vacates, pounce on quick restarts before Malmö’s counter-press resets, and glue your tallest defender to Jansson at every dead ball. Above all, concentrate for the full ninety — Malmö both score and concede late.
Our verdict
Pedigree and possession tip the scales Malmö’s way, but the Swedes land in Riga light on strikers and scarred by more than one Baltic ambush. If RFS stay organised and choose their counter-punches wisely, this tie should still be alive when the caravan rolls back to Skåne.
