Viktoria Plzen picked up their first win of this season’s UEFA Europa League (UEL) campaign, comfortably defeating Malmo 3-0 in the first-ever meeting between these sides, with three red cards brandished during the contest.
Defeat at the weekend to Zlín marked the end of Miroslav Koubek’s time in charge of Plzen, meaning Marek Bakos was in the dugout as Malmo arrived for their 10th encounter against a Czech side, having won three of their previous nine (W3, D1, L5).
A bright start from the hosts should have been punctuated with the game’s opening goal when Matej Vydra ran clear of the visitors’ backline, but the unselfish decision to lay the ball off to Rafiu Durosinmi cost them as the ball was cut out.
Malmo had scored in eight of their last nine UEL away matches, but it was Viktoria very much on top, with the Swedish side having to deal with two enforced first-half substitutions to boot.
Undeterred, the 24-time Swedish champions came within inches of breaking the deadlock on the half-hour mark, almost taking full advantage of a corner that dropped to Hugo Bolin, whose snapshot on the turn cannoned off the inside of the post.
Plzen made the most of that let-off, netting just four minutes later as Amar Memic whipped in a delightful cross for Vydra to head home.
With half-time approaching, a rash challenge from Lasse Berg Johnsen then saw the away side reduced to 10 men for a second yellow, and hope of a turnaround was dealt another major blow as Durosinmi reacted first to turn in a rebound soon after.
Having managed just one win in 17 previous UEL encounters (D2, L14), history was not on the visitors' side.
And a potential comeback was out of the question by the 53rd minute, as Robin Olsen got a hand to Vydra’s header from a set-piece delivery, but could do nothing to prevent Karel Spacil from squeezing in at the back post.
A late tackle from Merchas Doski on Adrian Skogmar left the referee with no choice but to send him off, yet even with numerical parity, there was no way back for Malmo, who were denied a late penalty after a VAR check.
After drawing their UEL opener 1-1 against Ferencváros, giving up their lead in stoppage time, a pleasing performance here sees Plzen up to four points and inside the automatic qualification spots at this early stage.
As for Malmo, their 2-1 defeat to Ludogorets is compounded by another loss, leaving them pointless and already fearing a third successive elimination at this stage of a UEL campaign, with their misery furthered by a stoppage-time red card for Daníel Tristan Gudjohnsen.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Matej Vydra (Viktoria Plzen)