In a tense and error-plagued night at Eleda Stadion, Malmö FF’s hopes of a bright beginning in the Europa League were quickly extinguished by Ludogorets Razgrad, who secured a 2–1 victory that exposed the Swedish side’s fragility.
The Bulgarian outfit struck early, punished two major lapses from Malmö’s defence and goalkeeper, and held on despite a late surge from the hosts. For Malmö, the loss deepens mounting unease around form, tactics, and the future direction of the club.
Ludogorets’ first blow came within eight minutes when Gabriel Busanello was adjudged to have fouled Edvin Kurtulus inside the box, prompting referee intervention via VAR and awarding a penalty.
Petar Stanic calmly converted, sending Robin Olsen the wrong way to give the visitors the lead. That early strike would not stand alone. In the 24th minute, Yves Erick Bile twice profited from Malmö’s defensive miscommunication and indecisiveness.
Robin Olsen, coming off his line, mistimed his movement; chaos ensued. Bile pounced on the loose ball and slotted home Ludogorets’ second, leaving Malmö reeling.
From there, Malmö dominated possession—some statistics show them controlling over 60 percent—but meaningful penetration proved elusive. The hosts flashed promise in moments, but Ludogorets’ defensive compactness and occasional counter-threats blunted any sustained pressure.
The remainder of the first half passed without another goal, but the faltering confidence of Malmö’s backline and keeper was already an ominous sign.
Ludogorets start the 2025/26 season with a win #UEL pic.twitter.com/66yVLmZbIt
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) September 24, 2025
After the break, Malmö turned up the intensity. They probed on both flanks, pressed in midfield, and began to drag Ludogorets into deeper defensive posture. The introduction of Taha Ali and Stefano Vecchia injected additional movement and directness into Malmö’s attack. But even with improved fluidity, clear opportunities were hard to come by—and when they did arrive, Ludogorets’ keeper and defenders held firm.
The breakthrough for Malmö finally came in the 78th minute. Taha Ali delivered a cross that found Lasse Berg Johnsen just outside the penalty area. His shot, slightly deflected off a defender, squeezed through to narrow the gap to 2–1. It injected a jolt of belief into the crowd, giving Malmö a window to push forward for parity.
In the final 10 minutes, Malmö threw everything forward—corners, overlaps, direct balls into the box—but Ludogorets remained disciplined. They absorbed the pressure and launched a few counterattacks of their own, forcing Malmö defenders to scramble at times.
One near miss from Otto Rosengren drew a good stop, and another effort drifted just wide. Ultimately, as the clock wound toward full time, Malmö could find neither the composure nor the guile to equalize. The final whistle confirmed Ludogorets’ win and left Malmö to stare at a painful defeat.
In the press area after the match, Malmö’s frustrations were laid bare. Supporters, already restless over recent home form, voiced vocal discontent and demanded answers. The match marked Malmö’s fourth consecutive home fixture without victory, intensifying pressure on the coaching staff.
Henrik Rydström, the head coach, faced calls for his resignation. He refused to step down, acknowledging fault in his side’s defensive vulnerabilities, but insisted that the team must rally. He described the evening as “painful” and pledged to rebuild trust and stability.
Ludogorets, by contrast, celebrated a morale-boosting triumph. Their ability to capitalize on Malmö’s errors demonstrated both opportunism and composure.
For Malmö, this loss is more than a bad night — it underscores systemic issues. Their defensive structure, particularly the coordination between goalkeeper and back line, collapsed at critical moments.