MALMO, Sweden (Interstat) — A crucial Europa League Group Stage match is set for Thursday as Sweden’s Malmo FF hosts Greece’s Panathinaikos AO at Eleda Stadion. With both teams seeking a vital three points to bolster their knockout stage hopes, the contest presents a stark contrast in recent form.

Panathinaikos (2-1-1, 7 points) arrives in Sweden sitting higher in the group table but licking its wounds from a 3-1 defeat to Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord in its last European outing. The Greek side has been inconsistent, mixing a 4-1 road victory at Young Boys with a scoreless draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Malmo (1-2-1, 4 points) enters the match under pressure after a disappointing 2-1 domestic loss to Pitea IF last Sunday. Their Europa League campaign has been marked by frustration, including consecutive 3-0 and 2-1 losses to Viktoria Plzen and Ludogorets, respectively. Manager’s will be demanding a response from his squad in front of the home supporters.

According to the Interstat game simulator, Malmo is projected to edge out a 2-1 victory. A win would dramatically tighten the group standings for the Swedish club, while Panathinaikos can take a significant step toward the next round with a positive result. The fixture kicks off at 6:45 p.m. local time (1745 GMT).