Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Old Club Faces PSG In The Champions League

Malmo Vs PSG
• Zlatan returns
• Malmo 10.50
• PSG 1.48

It's always fun to watch a big star return to where they were made. Simona Halep gets cheers in Constanta, Beckham and Scholes got a huge cheer at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago despite having moved on years ago, Hoddle will always get plaudits at Spurs and as for Vinnie Jones returning to Wimbledon, Hollywood's adulation cannot compare, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club Malmo FF might not be so welcoming of their homegrown PSG star this Wednesday night.

Naturally PSG have had the cloud of reality hung heavy over their heads in recent days. The tragic and deplorable events of Friday the 13th in Paris still at the forefront of French minds even as they attempt to carry on as before. Their strip has been adjusted in acknowledgment of this, now emblazoned with “JE SUIS PARIS” as they travel to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club for a Champions League match that is all important in their seeking of a place in the last 16.

Just how much that will cloud player's minds when kick-off comes is debatable, however whilst this is obviously not the best of circumstances the need to find resolve and resilience is entirely key to any game of this magnitude at any time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club might not have the big name stars of the boys from Paris, but at home in the Swedbank Stadion they have to fancy their chances despite the odds rather heavily favoring the French league toppers.

Taking advantage of the bizarre Swedish gambling laws one can easily check at ComeOn! Sportsbook and see that Paris Saint-Germain are garnering a rather foregone-conclusion-esque 1.27 whilst Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club hover in not-a-hope-in-hell territory at 10.50 which, if we're honest about it, is a tad unfair. Sure, to wager on Malmo FF over PSG is a bit of a risky wager, but you can bet there will be more than a few Swedes willing to take those odds, even if they don't bet the bank whilst doing so.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Old Club Awaits Him

Malmo have unfortunately seen a bit of a slump in focus in recent times, they only managed a paltry 5th place in the Allsvenskan this year, which means they didn't qualify for Europe next year, and should they lose on Wednesday there's a chance they won't even make the Europa League either, but perhaps Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club can take some heart from knowing that they've never been an easy team to beat, and that PSG's luck has to run out sometime. 

PSG smacked Lorient around on the weekend giving them a sizable points lead at the top of Ligue 1 in France, their eighth win in a row. Meanwhile Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club haven't played competitively since November 8th and even then it was against a sub-par Gotene side in a domestic cup game. Hardly the preparation one needs going into a big competition match upon which much depends, and it doesn't help that the orchestrator of their doom will be one of their own.

Swedish idolization of Zlatan is long standing, and his return to his home town is a bitter sweet moment for those in Malmo that like to bet on sports in Sweden. The loyalties between team and player that are settled by professional contract and a huge paycheck are not so easily separated for fans. Should they bet on the player they love or the team they support? It's a tough call as Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club hosts their homegrown hero's new side, one many will have followed because of his signing.

Champions League Last 16 To Be Decided?

Of course elsewhere in the Champions League things are no less fraught for Premier League sides although Manchester United look set to batter PSV Eindhoven, their rivals Manchester City have to travel to Juventus where they stand far less chance. Man Utd are getting 1.48 for their match, Man City just 3.40 (against the Italian's 2.20). Real Madrid fans will be unsurprised they're due to win against Shakhtar Donetsk, ComeOn! Sportsbook giving them a 1.90 vs 4.00 odds advantage going in.

That security for all these games will be high is a given, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club taking all necessary precautions ahead of their clash and around Europe the security services are all too aware that the large crowds these games attract makes them prime targets, as the attack on the Stad de France made all too obvious. Fans will be asked for patience and cooperation, but amidst the zeitgeist of our times I'm gambling news coverage of recent events will make them only too willing to provide both.

Europe has had to face up to an uncertain future in light of events this year, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's old club, Malmo, will have to do the same when PSG go home and the side is left to contemplate a mountain to climb to once again achieve the greatness of which they're capable. Just what will the future hold for the Swedish side next season if they lose this match? They don't want to find out and perhaps that will spur them on to superhuman effort against their hero's new side on Wednesday.