Malmo FF vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Hareide sends out Atletico warning

Malmo coach Age Hareide has warned Atletico Madrid not to expect as comfortable a Champions League evening as they experienced a fortnight ago when the two teams clash again in Sweden on Tuesday.

Although Malmo managed to hold Atletico scoreless in the first half of their match at the Vicente Calderon on matchday three, the Primera Division champions ran riot after the break to record a 5-0 victory - Malmo's biggest European defeat in 44 years.

That left Atletico at the top of Group A on six points, the same as Olympiacos and three clear of Juventus and Malmo, and Diego Simeone's men could take a huge step towards the last 16 with another win on Tuesday.

However, Hareide has pointed out his side are no pushovers at their Malmo New Stadium and that they also still harbour ambitions of getting through the group themselves.

Asked if Tuesday's game will decide Malmo's fate, Hareide told Spanish newspaper Marca: "Well, if Juventus beat Olympiacos we'll still be in the running, but first we have to do the business against Atletico.

"We can beat anyone at home; we haven't lost (at home) in Europe for three years. We haven't conceded in continental competition at the Malmo New Stadium for eight games. Our fans really get behind us."

Malmo did taste defeat at the weekend, though, going down 2-1 at Atvidaberg in their final Allsvenskan match of the season.

However, Malmo had already wrapped the title up weeks ago and Hareide took the chance to give some of his players a bit of a break ahead of the visit of Atletico.

He said at Monday's press conference: "To play European matches in November is not so common in Scandinavia. It's a new challenge. We've talked a lot about it. We rested several players against Atvidaberg to have stamina and energy against Atletico."

Whereas Malmo go into the match on the back of a defeat, Atletico warmed up for their trip to Sweden with a 4-2 victory over Cordoba.

Last season's Champions League runners-up have now won four on the trot since losing to Valencia a month ago, and Simeone is pleased with how things are progressing.

He said: "We're growing and we have more continuity in our play. Were advancing more down the wings and (Mario) Mandzukic and (Antoine) Griezmann are having more involvement in the play.

"Since the game against Sevilla (4-0 win on September 27) we've improved."

Simeone will be without Cristian Ansaldi for Tuesday's match through injury but the fit-again Tiago returns and is part of a 20-man travelling squad.

For Malmo, goalkeeper Robin Olsen - who had to be replaced in the second half against Atvidaberg because of injury - looks set to be fit to feature while midfielder Simon Thern played his first full match since July at the weekend.