+ The final gold rush?
Djurgården's 1–1 away against Värnamo last weekend may have been the death blow for the Stockholm team's gold dreams. Table two Dif is now a whole ten points behind last year's champion Malmö FF, which thus seems to fulfill the big favorite role from before the season.
+ Can IFK Göteborg breathe a sigh of relief?
One of the series' most classic clubs has had the threat of relegation hanging over them all summer. And despite the heavy derby win against Gais last time, the team's first since July, IFK Göteborg is far from safe. "Blåvitt" has played in Allsvenskan since 1977 but is seriously involved in the bottom struggle, which mainly stands between these:
Currently on safe ground:
-
Brommapojkarna, 30 points, –6 in goal difference.
-
IFK Göteborg, 27, –9.
-
IFK Norrköping, 27, –19.
-
Värnamo, 25, –10.
On qualifying spot:
- Halmstad, 24, –17.
On relegation spot:
-
Kalmar FF, 22, –19.
-
Västerås, 19, –15.
+ The fight for Europe – a capital affair?
If Malmö FF has settled the gold struggle, the battle right behind the Scanians is very much alive. A handful of teams are fighting for the two (or maybe three) remaining European spots, and right now it's Djurgården and AIK who have them, just ahead of another Stockholm team: Hammarby.
In the starting position, the second and third in Allsvenskan will qualify for the Conference League next year. The catch is that the winner of the Swedish Cup gets a spot in the Europa League qualifiers and if MFF wins the Cup gold in 2025, the spot will go to the Allsvenskan runner-up – at the same time as the table four gets to qualify for the Conference League.
Will qualify for Champions League:
- Malmö FF, 56, +40.
On other European spots:
-
Djurgården, 46, +10.
-
AIK, 45, +2.
The challengers:
-
Hammarby, 44, +18.
-
Elfsborg, 41, +13.
-
Gais, 40, +2.
-
Mjällby, 39, +4.
+ Two teams thinking about vacation already?
Yes, in theory, table eight Sirius and nine Häcken can still get involved in the top struggle – and mathematically, maybe even the bottom struggle. But with 37 and 36 points, respectively, it's more likely that it's those teams whose fans have the least exciting football autumn ahead of them.
Lasse Mannheimer/TT
Facts: This weekend's round
TT
Saturday
15.00: Mjällby–Västerås, Hammarby–Halmstad.
17.30: Brommapojkarna–Gais.
Sunday
14.00: AIK–Häcken, Djurgården–Kalmar FF.
16.30: Malmö FF–Värnamo, IFK Norrköping–IFK Göteborg, Sirius–Elfsborg.
