Austria Wien eye minor Malmö miracle

FK Austria Wien could yet snatch a place in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 provided they get the better of Malmö FF in their final Group G fixture. • Austria trail second-placed AZ Alkmaar by two points but have an identical head-to-head record. They would thus finish second if they win and AZ lose at home against FC Metalist Kharkiv – and could potentially do so if AZ draw, although they would need to beat the Swedish side by six or more goals. Previous meetings • Austria were 2-1 winners when the sides met on matchday two. Nacer Barazite (17) put the visitors on top with a powerful low drive. Alexander Grünwald then doubled their advantage (36), though Mathias Ranégie's 82nd-minute header ensured a nervy finale. • Bob Houghton's Malmö famously denied Hermann Stessl's Austria a place in the 1978/79 European Champion Clubs' Cup final, beating them 1-0 over two legs in the semi-finals – Tommy Hansson heading the only goal of the tie in Sweden – before losing to Nottingham Forest FC by the same scoreline in the final. • The teams for their last meeting at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion, on 11 April 1979, were: Austria: Baumgartner, Robert Sara, Obermayer, Pospischil, Baumeister, Josef Sara, Parits, Prohaska, Daxbacher (Zach 61), Gasselich, Schachner. Malmö: Möller, Roland Andersson, Erlandsson, Roy Andersson, Magnus Andersson, Tapper, Kristensson, Jönsson, Hansson (Tommy Andersson 73), Cervin, Kinnvall. • Austria Wien's current coach Karl Daxbacher started both games, but was substituted in each. Match background • That semi-final success was Malmö's only experience of Austrian opposition prior to matchday two. • Austria played two further games against Swedish sides – losing at home to Örebro SK (2-3) and at Helsingborgs IF (0-3) – prior to their reunion with Malmo to leave them with the overall record W1 D1 L3 (W0 D1 L1 at home). • Austria have lost only one of their last eight European home games – 2-1 against Metalist on matchday one – recording four wins and three draws. • Malmö have had a torrid time on the road since their surprise 1-0 win at Rangers FC in this season's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, losing all three of their subsequent games – 4-1, 4-1 and most recently 3-1. Team facts • Austria's next goal will be their 300th in UEFA competition; this will be their 217th UEFA game. • Malmö have scored 145 goals in UEFA competition, but the next one they concede will also be their 150th against. This is their 115th UEFA game. • Austria's Barazite was the top scorer in UEFA Europa League qualifying this season, hitting eight goals in six appearances. The Dutch forward joined Austria from Arsenal FC in January following loan spells with Derby County FC and Vitesse. • Daxbacher won six caps for the Austria national team and racked up almost 400 league appearances as a midfielder for Austria Wien, winning seven league titles and four Austrian Cups. He played in the 1978 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final, losing 4-0 to RSC Anderlecht. He has coached his old club since 2008, winning the Austrian Cup in his first full season in charge. • Malmö coach Rikard Norling's midfield career was cut short by injury but he made his name as a coach, taking charge of AIK Solna (2005 to 2008) and Assyriska Föreningen (2010 to 2011) before replacing FC København-bound Roland Nilsson at the helm of the Swedish champions in May.