Swedish legend tips misfiring Malmo to go through at ibrox
Swedish managerial legend, Zoran Lukic, insists Malmo will have no problems knocking Rangers out of the Champions League this week.
The veteran boss – who guided minnows Djurgaardens from the second tier to winning two Allsvenskan titles and two Swedish Cups – reckons Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side can still go up another level from their performance last Tuesday night.
Lukic can see the Swedes stepping it up in Glasgow, despite Rangers being huge favourites to qualify.
Steven Gerrard’s side trail 2-1 from the first leg in the third qualifying round, after an important injury-time goal from Steven Davis.
But they have work to do in the Ibrox showdown on Tuesday, with the away goal rule scrapped.
Lukic said: “Malmo had a good result against Rangers in the Champions League, and they are having a good season in the league too.
“They are a strong team.
“When the pieces of the puzzle eventually fall into place properly, I think Malmo will actually go quite far in the Champions League – certainly through the qualifiers.
“I’m pretty sure they will be able to beat Rangers in Glasgow, too, because they have another level in them, even above what they showed against the Scottish side last week.”
The Swedes were involved in league action yesterday, away to Haslmstads BK.
And they had almost as bad a day as Rangers, being held to a goalless draw by their mid-table opposition.
They rested some of their big-hitters ahead of their Ibrox visit, and it was not until near the hour mark that captain, Anders Christiansen, and the strikeforce of Jo-inge Berget and Antonia Colak were introduced.
But it was all to no avail as Halmstads frustrated their visitors throughout the 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, Malmo are set to sell
midfielder, Pavle Vagic, to Rosenborg before the second leg.
The 21-year-old has made seven appearances for Malmo this season, but was not amongst the 23 men who were stripped for Rangers’ visit last week.
He will be allowed to leave for the Norwegian club, and Malmo sports director, Daniel Andersson, has admitted Vagic is not the only player other clubs are interested in.
He said: “Pavle is on his way to another club, and we expect a transfer to be completed.
“There is some interest in our players. That’s not so strange, considering the level we are at, and the way we played against Rangers.
“So we will see what happens.”