1–1 at home against Öster at Gamla Ullevi was enough as Djurgården and IFK Göteborg also cruised in a goalless meeting at 3 arenas.
With one round left, the club stands on 52 points and closest rivals AIK and IFK Göteborg can neither catch up nor overtake them in the final table.
Ibrahim Diabate powerfully scored 1–0 and his 17th Allsvenskan goal of the season, assisted by Rasmus Niklasson Petrovic.
But Öster, who are fighting for their Allsvenskan existence, equalized through Daniel Ljung.
Despite numerous chances on both sides, most of them for Gais, the result stood. The end was still dramatic. In the seventh and final minute of added time, Östers centre-back Mattis Adolfsson brutally brought down Gustav Lundgren and received a red card.
Third again – 36 years later
In 1989, Gais was among the absolute top tier of the Swedish league and finished – just like now – third. 36 years later, Gais can look back on a roller coaster ride, both sporting and financial.
Before the season, many believed that Gais was facing a tough season.
Lundgren explains why it ended up being a success instead:
This group, the leadership team, the way we've worked every day. We were never worried that they would go in the direction the experts thought. It's been going in the right direction all year.
You love coming to training every day, hanging out, laughing and having fun, he says.
Fight for fourth place
12,123 spectators came to celebrate third place, which means qualification for the Conference League and the little silverware. Not since 1973 has Gais had an average of over 10,000 spectators.
With Mjällby already the clear champion, Hammarby and Gais equally clear in second and third place, a fight for fourth place in the Allsvenskan awaits in the final round. That position could ultimately give a ticket to the European competition. AIK, IFK Göteborg, Djurgården and Malmö FF all have the chance to finish fourth.
Henrik Skiöld/TT
Facts: Allsvenskan's remaining matches
TT
Round 29
Monday: Degerfors–Hammarby, Värnamo–Mjällby.
Round 30
Sunday, November 9: AIK–Halmstad, Brommapojkarna–Degerfors, Hammarby–Elfsborg, IFK Gothenburg–IFK Norrköping, Sirius–Värnamo, Malmö FF–Gais, Mjällby–Häcken, Öster–Djurgården.
