Tough away game. We don't get anything for free directly. Damn pleased that we're leaving with three points, says MFF coach Henrik Rydström to Max and continues:
Good start to Allsvenskan. It's going to be good this year too.
An Allsvenskan premiere is like Christmas Eve for Swedish supporters around the country. And it showed on the stands between Djurgården and Malmö FF. Already 45 minutes before kick-off, the two short sides were filled, and deafening singing and chanting echoed inside the 3 Arena.
It was also a new attendance record, since the move to the arena in 2013. 28,785 spectators were, according to TV company Max, in place for the season's first match. The previous record was 28,258.
And it wasn't just the supporters who were pumped up to the max. The players also had their emotions on display, and several times they clashed on the pitch.
But it wasn't a sparkling premiere party for "The Blue Stripes". Rather the opposite.
First Allsvenskan goal
The home team was dominant in large parts of the first half, and came close to breaking the Allsvenskan zero on two occasions. First, midfielder Daniel Stensson got a giant opportunity, which he shot outside, and then Tokmac Nguen hit the crossbar with a long shot.
But on added time, Jens Stryger Larsen would instead score the winning goal. Djurgården's Adam Ståhl got an unfortunate rebound on his foot that bounced straight to a completely free Stryger Larsen. And the goal was not only the season's first. It was also the 34-year-old Dane's first goal in Allsvenskan ever.
But it was far from the last, says the Dane.
There will be many more, says Stryger Larsen to Max.
Despite massive pressure from Djurgården, the home team never managed to break Malmö's zero.
The captain stepped off
Even more unfortunate for the guests was that team captain Anders Christiansen was forced to step off after a blow to the head in the first half. The 34-year-old Dane collided with Daniel Stensson and immediately signaled to the medical team. Then he tried to play on, before stepping off on added time in the first half and going straight to the dressing room.
Christiansen has a long injury history and has, among other things, been forced to have a pacemaker implanted after collapsing during a training session with heart problems in May 2023.
