UEL: Viktoria Plzen Clinch First UEL Win with 3-0 Thrashing of Malmö

Malmö FF crushed by Viktoria Plzen in UEFA Europa League

Viktoria Plzen secured their first UEFA Europa League win of the season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Malmö FF in their inaugural meeting, marked by a dramatic match that saw three red cards shown.

Viktoria Plzen bounced back from a 1-1 draw against Ferencváros in their UEL opener, where they conceded...

Viktoria Plzen secured their first UEFA Europa League win of the season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Malmo FF in their first-ever meeting. The match saw three red cards issued, with Malmo's players particularly unfortunate in receiving two of them.

The win marked a significant turnaround for Viktoria Plzen, who had parted ways with their manager Miroslav Koubek just days before following a disappointing loss to Zlín. Marek Bakoš took the reins as interim manager and led the team to victory, with Koubek's departure marking the end of a notable era for the club under his guidance. Despite the win, Viktoria Plzen's league form has been inconsistent, with the team sitting fifth in the standings after losing too many points in the first ten games.

Viktoria Plzen started brightly, with Matej Vydra creating a promising opportunity when he ran clear of Malmo's defense. However, his decision to pass to Rafiu Durosinmi ultimately proved costly as the ball was intercepted.

Despite Malmo's FF recent away form in the Europa League, which saw them score in eight of their last nine matches, Viktoria dominated the game. Malmo faced additional challenges, with two forced substitutions in the first half.

KONEC Ⓥ🔚
Švédský nájezd zastaven 🇸🇪🛑#UEL #viktoriamalmö pic.twitter.com/3DmXFUSvvY

— FC Viktoria Plzeň (@fcviktorkaplzen) October 2, 2025

Despite the early pressure, Malmo FF came close to scoring on the 30th minute when Hugo Bolin's snapshot from a corner kick hit the inside of the post. However, Plzen capitalized on the miss, scoring four minutes later when Amar Memic's cross found Adam Vydra, who headed the ball home.

This goal gave Plzen a crucial advantage, and they continued to press their lead. The match ultimately ended in a 3-0 win for Viktoria Plzen, with the Czech side dominating the proceedings. The result marked a significant win for Plzen, who were looking to bounce back after a tough spell.

As halftime approached, Malmo's chances of a comeback were dealt a severe blow when Lasse Berg Johnsen received a second yellow card, reducing the team to 10 men. Shortly after, Viktoria Plzen extended their lead when Rafiu Durosinmi reacted quickly to score from a rebound.

The visitors' history in the Europa League didn't favor them, having managed just one win in 17 previous encounters (D2, L14). The odds seemed stacked against Malmo as they trailed 2-0 heading into the second half.

Malmo's hopes of a comeback were dashed in the 53rd minute when Matej Vydra headed down a set-piece delivery, and although Robin Olsen got a hand to it, Karel Spacil tapped in at the back post to double Plzen's lead.

The match took another turn when Merchas Doski was sent off for a late tackle on Adrian Skogmar, leaving Malmo down to 10 men. Despite having numerical equality restored later didn't change the outcome, and Malmo were also denied a late penalty after a VAR review.

Viktoria Plzen bounced back from a 1-1 draw against Ferencváros in their UEL opener, where they conceded a lead in stoppage time, with a convincing 3-0 win over Malmö FF. This impressive performance propels them to four points, securing a spot within the automatic qualification positions early in the campaign.

Malmö FF's struggles continue, with their 2-1 loss to Ludogorets compounded by another defeat, leaving them pointless. The Swedish side now fears a third successive elimination from the UEL campaign at this stage. Their misery was further exacerbated by a stoppage-time red card for Daniel Tristan Gudjohnsen, although it's worth noting the red card was later revoked after VAR intervention.