As usual, Hammarby fans will march from Medborgarplatsen to 3 Arena on the opening day of the men's Swedish championship.
But this year is special - a first: a match between last year's first- and second-place teams awaits.
"You might have wished that this match had come a little later, when both styles of play were fully established, because it always takes a few rounds to get the feel, rhythm and level of the matches again. But at the same time, it will be incredibly fun and inspiring to face Mjällby," says Hammarby captain Nahir Besara.
"Great fun. No matter which team you had faced in the first round, you would have had that Allsvenskan opening-match thrill in you," says Mjällby centre-back Axel Norén.
“Mjällby is fantastic”
At the recent Allsvenskan kick-off meeting, the media and coaches had to submit their final predictions. When the results appeared on the big screen, Hammarby came in first and Mjällby came in second.
Nahir Besara praises Mjällby and believes that “Bajen” needs to be lucky to win the Swedish championship.
"I think Mjällby are fantastic. A fantastic team and you have seen now in the quarter-finals and semi-finals (in the Swedish Cup) that they have run over their opponents. Two top-rated teams. I think we need to perform in every match," he says.
Two new coaches
Mjällby won their first Swedish Championship gold in 2025 and did it with flying colours, as they secured first place with three rounds remaining and set a points record.
Successful coach Anders Torstensson left the head coach role at Mjällby after the title and his replacement, Karl Marius Aksum, who was assistant coach last year, has not changed the playing system much, says Norén.
"I think you've been able to see it now during the preseason and the Swedish Cup that we are continuing and building on what we started last year," he says.
Besara also doesn't see too many changes since Kalle Karlsson joined as coach ahead of the season.
"In broad terms, it's the same. We press hard, we have a lot of the ball and are dominant, but then of course there are small things that Kalle emphasises that he thinks are important and has changed," he says.
Facts: Allsvenskan's opening matches
April 4:
Degerfors–Sirius, at 3:00 p.m.
Hammarby–Mjällby, 3:00 p.m.
April 5:
AIK–Halmstad, 2:00 p.m.
Kalmar–Västerås, 2:00 p.m.
Örgryte–Malmö, 4:30 p.m.
April 6:
BK Häcken–Brommapojkarna, 2:00 p.m.
Elfsborg–Gothenburg, 2:00 p.m.
Gais–Djurgården, 4:30 p.m.
