UEFA Europa League League Stage - 2

Plzen 3 - 0 FT Malmo FF

Doosan Arena

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
53
FT
Thu, Oct 2
Plzen
3-0
Malmo FF
⚡ Intensity 72
⚖️ Balance 8
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 0
Plzen cruise through chaotic VAR drama.

Plzen Punish Malmö in Card-Happy European Chaos

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 53/100. A match defined by indiscipline and VAR interventions saw Plzen comfortably dispatch a struggling Malmö side to strengthen their playoff push.

Opening Act

Plzen established control early at Stadion Mesta Plzne, dictating the tempo and pressing a fragile Malmö defence. The Balance of play tipped firmly in the hosts' favour as they controlled possession and created regular openings. The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute when A. Memic carved out space to feed M. Vydra, who clinically finished to put Plzen ahead. The Intensity instantly spiked, but for all the wrong reasons for the visitors. Just four minutes later, Lasse Berg Johnsen was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge, leaving the Swedish side with a mountain to climb. Plzen ruthlessly capitalised on the numerical advantage just before the break, with R. Durosinmi doubling the lead after Vydra turned provider.

The Pivot

Entering the second half, the Stakes were high for Malmö to mount a response, but Plzen quickly extinguished any lingering hope of a comeback. In the 53rd minute, defender K. Spacil joined the attacking fun, lashing home Plzen's third goal after a well-worked sequence. However, the narrative shifted abruptly when VAR intervened just three minutes later. Merchas Doski saw his initial yellow card upgraded to a straight red for a poor challenge, reducing Plzen to ten men and slightly levelling the playing field. Despite the sudden ejection, Plzen's structural integrity remained entirely intact. This was largely thanks to a colossal defensive shift from Sampson Dweh, who expertly marshalled the backline to deny Malmö any clear route back into the contest.

Resolution

The final stages of the match descended into pure chaos rather than competitive football. With the result beyond doubt, the Upset Factor was nonexistent, but the on-pitch drama was far from over. In the 88th minute, Malmö thought they had won a late consolation penalty, only for VAR to intervene and overturn the decision involving Kenan Busuladzic. Frustration completely boiled over deep into stoppage time when another VAR review upgraded a card for Daníel Tristan Guðjohnsen, resulting in Malmö's second red card of the night for violent conduct. Plzen's commanding 3-0 victory solidifies their position in the playoff spots, while Malmö's miserable European campaign continues to unravel at the absolute bottom of the standings.

Key Questions

How did the red card for Lasse Berg Johnsen impact the match?

His 38th-minute dismissal left Malmö with ten men, allowing Plzen to dominate and score their second goal just before halftime.

How did VAR change this match?

VAR heavily influenced the outcome, upgrading cards to red for Doski and Guðjohnsen, while also overturning a late Malmö penalty.

What made Karel Spácil the Man of the Match?

Spácil delivered a commanding display, earning an 8.5 rating by anchoring the defense and scoring Plzen's decisive third goal.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
59%
41%
Plzen 59%
Malmo FF 41%
Shots
14
8
Plzen 14
Malmo FF 8
Shots on Target
7
1
Plzen 7
Malmo FF 1
Expected Goals (xG)
2.17
0.36
Plzen 2.17
Malmo FF 0.36
Passes
459
326
Plzen 459
Malmo FF 326
Pass Accuracy
88%
79%
Plzen 88%
Malmo FF 79%
Corners
3
6
Plzen 3
Malmo FF 6
Fouls
12
16
Plzen 12
Malmo FF 16
Yellow Cards
2
4
Plzen 2
Malmo FF 4
Red Cards
1
2
Plzen 1
Malmo FF 2

Match Events

P. Jansson A. Djuric 🔄 16'
23' 🟨 Sampson Dweh
A. Christiansen D. T. Gudjohnsen 🔄 27'
34' M. Vydra (A. Memic)
44' R. Durosinmi (M. Vydra)
HT
E. Ekong O. Berg 🔄 46'
53' K. Spacil (M. Vydra)
56' Merchas Doski
57' 🟥 Merchas Doski
64' 🔄 R. Durosinmi T. Ladra
64' 🔄 D. Visinsky C. Souare
64' 🔄 M. Valenta A. Zeljkovic
Colin Rösler 🟨 68'
69' 🟨 Václav Jemelka
77' 🔄 M. Vydra P. Adu
A. Skogmar S. Soumah 🔄 77'
O. Rosengren K. Busuladzic 🔄 77'
80' 🔄 A. Memic M. Havel
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Plzen

Goalkeepers
M. Jedlicka
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
S. Dweh
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
6
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
V. Jemelka
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Spacil
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Midfielders
A. Memic
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
M. Valenta
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
L. Cerv
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
M. Doski
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
1
Fouls
6.2
Rating
Forwards
M. Vydra
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
5
Shots
7.2
Rating
R. Durosinmi
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
D. Visinsky
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
BENCH
M. Tvrdon
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
F. Wiegele
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Paluska
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Havel
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Souare
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Zeljkovic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Kabongo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Ladra
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Bello
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Adu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Malmo FF

Goalkeepers
R. Olsen
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
J. Stryger
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
P. Jansson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
16
Entry
C. Rosler
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Busanello
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
A. Skogmar
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
O. Rosengren
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
L. Johnsen
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
3
Fouls
5.2
Rating
H. Bolin
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Forwards
E. Ekong
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
A. Christiansen
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
27
Entry
BENCH
J. Dahlin
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Ellborg
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Karlsson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Djuric
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
78%
Duel Win %
M. Olsson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Lewicki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Sigurdsson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Berg
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Holmquist
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Busuladzic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Soumah
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. T. Gudjohnsen
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.9
Rating

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Dinamo Zagreb 2 6 6 2 +4 WMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)WDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahçe (24-09-2025)
2 FC Midtjylland 2 6 5 2 +3 WNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)WFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
3 Aston Villa 2 6 3 0 +3 WFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)WAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
4 Lyon 2 6 3 0 +3 WLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)WUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
5 SC Braga 2 6 3 0 +3 WCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)WSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
6 Lille 2 6 3 1 +2 WAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
7 FC Porto 2 6 3 1 +2 WFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)WRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
8 Plzen 2 4 4 1 +3 WPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
9 Real Betis 2 4 4 2 +2 WLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
10 SC Freiburg 2 4 3 2 +1 DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)WSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
11 Ferencvarosi TC 2 4 2 1 +1 WGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)DFerencvarosi TC 1 - 1 Plzen (25-09-2025)
12 Panathinaikos 2 3 5 3 +2 LPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)WBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
13 Celta Vigo 2 3 4 3 +1 WCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)LVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
14 FC Basel 1893 2 3 3 2 +1 WFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)LSC Freiburg 2 - 1 FC Basel 1893 (24-09-2025)
15 Brann 2 3 2 2 0 WBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LLille 2 - 1 Brann (25-09-2025)
16 GO Ahead Eagles 2 3 2 2 0 WPanathinaikos 1 - 2 GO Ahead Eagles (02-10-2025)LGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
17 AS Roma 2 3 2 2 0 LAS Roma 0 - 1 Lille (02-10-2025)WNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
18 Genk 2 3 1 1 0 LGenk 0 - 1 Ferencvarosi TC (02-10-2025)WRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)
19 BSC Young Boys 2 3 3 4 -1 WFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)LBSC Young Boys 1 - 4 Panathinaikos (25-09-2025)
20 Fenerbahçe 2 3 3 4 -1 WFenerbahçe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LDinamo Zagreb 3 - 1 Fenerbahçe (24-09-2025)
21 VfB Stuttgart 2 3 2 3 -1 LFC Basel 1893 2 - 0 VfB Stuttgart (02-10-2025)WVfB Stuttgart 2 - 1 Celta Vigo (25-09-2025)
22 Ludogorets 2 3 2 3 -1 LLudogorets 0 - 2 Real Betis (02-10-2025)WMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)
23 Sturm Graz 2 3 2 3 -1 WSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LFC Midtjylland 2 - 0 Sturm Graz (24-09-2025)
24 FCSB 2 3 1 2 -1 LFCSB 0 - 2 BSC Young Boys (02-10-2025)WGO Ahead Eagles 0 - 1 FCSB (25-09-2025)
25 Nottingham Forest 2 1 4 5 -1 LNottingham Forest 2 - 3 FC Midtjylland (02-10-2025)DReal Betis 2 - 2 Nottingham Forest (24-09-2025)
26 FK Crvena Zvezda 2 1 2 3 -1 LFC Porto 2 - 1 FK Crvena Zvezda (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
27 Bologna 2 1 1 2 -1 DBologna 1 - 1 SC Freiburg (02-10-2025)LAston Villa 1 - 0 Bologna (25-09-2025)
28 Celtic 2 1 1 3 -2 LCeltic 0 - 2 SC Braga (02-10-2025)DFK Crvena Zvezda 1 - 1 Celtic (24-09-2025)
29 Maccabi Tel Aviv 2 1 1 3 -2 LMaccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
30 PAOK 2 1 1 3 -2 LCelta Vigo 3 - 1 PAOK (02-10-2025)DPAOK 0 - 0 Maccabi Tel Aviv (24-09-2025)
31 Nice 2 0 2 4 -2 LFenerbahçe 2 - 1 Nice (02-10-2025)LNice 1 - 2 AS Roma (24-09-2025)
32 Rangers 2 0 1 3 -2 LSturm Graz 2 - 1 Rangers (02-10-2025)LRangers 0 - 1 Genk (25-09-2025)
33 Utrecht 2 0 0 2 -2 LBrann 1 - 0 Utrecht (02-10-2025)LUtrecht 0 - 1 Lyon (25-09-2025)
34 Feyenoord 2 0 0 3 -3 LFeyenoord 0 - 2 Aston Villa (02-10-2025)LSC Braga 1 - 0 Feyenoord (24-09-2025)
35 Red Bull Salzburg 2 0 0 3 -3 LLyon 2 - 0 Red Bull Salzburg (02-10-2025)LRed Bull Salzburg 0 - 1 FC Porto (25-09-2025)
36 Malmo FF 2 0 1 5 -4 LPlzen 3 - 0 Malmo FF (02-10-2025)LMalmo FF 1 - 2 Ludogorets (24-09-2025)