Malmö’s last taste of competitive action came in their previous Europa League fixture before the winter break and it was little surprise the Swedish outfit looked a yard off the pace in the early stages of the first half.
Twente were quick to capitalise on that, taking the lead through Sem Steijn when he rolled home from the penalty spot after Gabriel Busanello bundled down Daan Rots inside the area.
It seemed to be what the home side needed to kick them into gear, with Busanello firing wide from just outside the box. Their pressure paid dividends moments later when Lasse Berg Johnsen’s effort from distance took a hefty deflection and squeezed past Lars Unnerstall in the Twente goal.
It proved nothing but a flurry for Malmö, who soon fell two goals behind after the second half got underway. Veteran striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel put the Dutch side in front with a cool and composed penalty just after the hour mark.
Just three minutes later, Gustaf Lagerbielke made it 3-1, with the Swedish international rising highest in the area to nod home Michal Sadílek’s pinpoint corner kick.
The hosts did manage to set up a grandstand finish with 10 minutes to go, as Anders Christiansen fashioned some space for himself inside the 18-yard box before lashing home a drilled shot to reduce the arrears to one.
It ultimately proved too little, too late for Malmö, who were unable to fashion an equaliser, meaning their European adventure is all but over for the current campaign. The opposite is the case for Twente, who despite going winless in their opening six games of the UEL, will enter next week’s final matchday with a route into the knockouts still open to them.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Sem Steijn (FC Twente)
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