Gais and IFK Göteborg entered the derby at Gamla Ullevi as sixth and seventh in the table, respectively.
The green and blacks had the advantage of home ground, but lacked both the recently sold to Blackburn Axel Henriksson and the injured William Milovanovic.
Blåvitt was forced to manage without the suspended key player David Kruse. Coach Stefan Billborn chose to replace him with 38-year-old Gustav Svensson in the central midfield. A surprising move since the veteran has mainly played center back in recent years.
Rivstart
IFK Göteborg got a dream start to the match. A cross from the right found its way to Saidou Alioum, who calmly played diagonally backwards to Kolbeinn Thordarson. The Icelander easily placed the ball in for 1–0 and silenced the home crowd.
Shortly afterwards, Blåvitt was close to giving away its lead when Gais was awarded a penalty. From eleven meters, however, Ibrahim Diabate shot the ball high over the crossbar and hit his fists in disappointment.
Much struggle and not much nice play. It becomes a lot of duels instead and then it's about winning the second balls, said Gustav Svensson in Max's broadcast at halftime.
”A matter of course”
The second half continued at the same intense pace, although neither team found the net.
When the referee blew for full time, the score was still 1–0 on the board and Blåvitt could collect this year's first derby win and a second consecutive win in Allsvenskan.
It was magical. Derbies are something special. Winning derbies is the best thing there is, says IFK Göteborg's goalkeeper Elis Bishesari after the match.
The goalkeeper made a sharp save in the very end of the match when he tipped Lucas Hedlund's header over the crossbar. A save that became decisive.
– We are the best in town! It's a matter of course, he says.
For Gais, the loss means the team's first since round seven, May 5.
