Malmö FF have been drawn against Ajax in the Europa Cup round of 16. The first leg will be played away on October 28 or 29, with the return leg at home on November 10 or 11.
The team, currently seventh in Allsvenskan with 33 points, head into the tie with a recent run of three wins from their last five matches. This includes a 3-0 victory over FC Nordsjælland last week.
Tough draw for debutants
As debutants in the main tournament, Malmö FF were unseeded for the draw, making a difficult opponent like Ajax from Amsterdam a possibility. Rivals Hammarby, who were seeded, received a more favourable tie against Slovakia's Spartak Myjava. If both Swedish clubs win their round of 16 ties, they will meet in the quarterfinals in February.
"Klart: Hammarbys drömlott, tuffare för Malmö FF," a radio outlet noted after the draw. It presents a major challenge for a side that just qualified with double victories over St. Pölten. The team's top scorer this season, Erik Botheim with ten goals, will need to be at his best. For a full squad overview, visit our squad page. The quarterfinal first legs are scheduled for February 3-4, with the return legs the following week.
Background and full detail: Gasetten
