SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

MFF Star: "We Must Start Taking More Points"

The "new" European football is soon halfway. Malmö FF is currently just outside the playoffs in the European Championship League. We must start taking more points, says Hugo Bolin after MFF's 0-1 loss to Olympiakos.

» Updated: 25 October 2024, 17:22

» Published: 25 October 2024

MFF Star: "We Must Start Taking More Points"
Photo: Anders Bjurö/TT

The new league game in European football – where each team meets eight or six different opponents – is soon halfway. In the Champions League and Europa League, all teams have played three matches out of eight. In the Conference League, the teams have played two rounds out of a total of six.

It's fun. You get to meet more teams. I see it as a challenge, I haven't played any other group play before. It's the first time for me and this is what's normal for me, says MFF star Hugo Bolin.

Can climb quickly

The two Swedish entries in the Europa League – Malmö and Elfsborg – are both on three points. Thanks to a better goal difference, the Borås club is currently 22nd out of a total of 36 teams. MFF is 25th – just outside the top 24 that reaches the playoffs.

We must start taking more points. We will try to win every match and take it match by match, says Bolin after Thursday's 0–1 loss to Olympiakos.

Lazio, Tottenham, and Anderlecht are the only teams that have taken full points in the Europa League. Behind them are six teams on seven points.

If you win a match, you take big steps. We have five left now and you go in with the same attitude to every match regardless of the opponent. Every match has its own life, says Taha Ali.

With three points halfway through the old system with a group stage, both MFF and Elfsborg would have had continued good chances to challenge for a playoff spot. Then, six matches were played, but home and away against the same team.

Meets Besiktas away

Now it's instead new teams in each round. After Glasgow Rangers, Karabach, and Olympiakos, Turkish Besiktas in Istanbul await Malmö.

It's going to be fun to play away in Turkey. I've heard it's a big and cool arena, says Hugo Bolin.

Djurgården started their play in the Conference League with a 2–2 draw away against Austrian Lask Linz, but fell on Thursday with 1–2 at home against Portuguese Vitória Guimarães.

A point yield and goal difference that puts the Stockholm team currently 24th in the table with four matches left to play.

In the Champions League, only Aston Villa and Liverpool have taken full points after three rounds.

The men's three club tournaments in football are now decided in a group stage with a total of 36 teams in each tournament.

In the Champions League and Europa League, each participating team meets eight different teams. In the Conference League, the teams meet six different opponents.

After the matches in the group stage, the top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Teams 9–24 meet in a playoff over two legs (home, away) to reach the round of 16. For teams that finish 25–36, it's over.

The knockout matches until and including the semifinals are decided over two legs – the finals are decided over one match.

Results and upcoming matches for the Swedish men's teams in European play:

Europa League

Malmö FF: Rangers (home) 0–2, Karabach (away) 2–1, Olympiakos (h) 0–1, 6/11 Besiktas (a), 28/11 Ferencvaros (a), 12/12 Galatasaray (h), 23/1 Twente (h), 30/1 Slavia Prag (a).

Elfsborg: AZ Alkmar (a) 2–3, Roma (h) 1–0, Galatasaray (a) 3–4, 7/11 Braga (h), 28/11 Athletic Bilbao (a), 12/12 Karabach (h),

23/1 Nice (h), 30/1 Tottenham (a).

Conference League

Djurgården: Lask Linz (a) 2–2, Vitória Guimarães (h) 1–2, 7/11 Panathinaikos (h), 28/11 The New Saints (a), 12/12 Víkingur (a), 19/12 Legia Warszawa (h).

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Quick Hero - Arsenal to Quarterfinal
1 MIN READ

Quick Hero - Arsenal to Quarterfinal

Confirmed: Frida Karlsson Competes in the Swedish Premiere
1 MIN READ

Confirmed: Frida Karlsson Competes in the Swedish Premiere

Hammarby's anger after the celebration: "Disgusting"
2 MIN READ

Hammarby's anger after the celebration: "Disgusting"

Frustrated Frölunda fell: "Worst we've done this year"
2 MIN READ

Frustrated Frölunda fell: "Worst we've done this year"

Confirmed: Guardiola Extends with Manchester City
1 MIN READ

Confirmed: Guardiola Extends with Manchester City

Sweden in European Championship final after thriller: "Proud and happy"
1 MIN READ

Sweden in European Championship final after thriller: "Proud and happy"

Blytung comeback for Åberg: "A bit rusty"
2 MIN READ

Blytung comeback for Åberg: "A bit rusty"

Hammarby set a new attendance record: "Love every single one"
3 MIN READ

Hammarby set a new attendance record: "Love every single one"

Referee suspended after Isak-miss
1 MIN READ

Referee suspended after Isak-miss

Super strikers in qualifying – Värnamo equalized late
2 MIN READ

Super strikers in qualifying – Värnamo equalized late

Sjöström's Criticism: "Would Have Been a Worthy Winner"
2 MIN READ

Sjöström's Criticism: "Would Have Been a Worthy Winner"

Tough for Team Edin - misses European Championship semifinal
1 MIN READ

Tough for Team Edin - misses European Championship semifinal

Roberts: Nothing is broken in any case
2 MIN READ

Roberts: Nothing is broken in any case

Rookies get a chance in the World Cup premiere
2 MIN READ

Rookies get a chance in the World Cup premiere

MFF confirms: Dahlin has a cruciate ligament injury
1 MIN READ

MFF confirms: Dahlin has a cruciate ligament injury

Operated on after horror injury – testicle burst
1 MIN READ

Operated on after horror injury – testicle burst

Guide: Everything you need to know ahead of the distance premiere
2 MIN READ

Guide: Everything you need to know ahead of the distance premiere

Haak's Joy: Gets to Defend the Title - in Sweden
1 MIN READ

Haak's Joy: Gets to Defend the Title - in Sweden

Poromaa misses the Swedish premiere
1 MIN READ

Poromaa misses the Swedish premiere

Kosovo appeals the decision affecting Sweden
1 MIN READ

Kosovo appeals the decision affecting Sweden