Åhman/Hellvig won Wednesday's European Championship opener in Poland, but lost 19-21, 18-21 to Switzerland's Julian Friedli and Jonathan Jordan.
"We're not quite reaching the level we need," Jonatan Hellvig says.
If they had won, the Swedes would have gone straight to the round of 16, but now the duo must play a win-or-lose match later on Thursday to reach the playoffs.
"We need to get off to a better start, and the more matches, the better," Åhman says.
However, world No. 1s Elmer Andersson and Jacob Hölting Nilsson take a direct place in the playoffs after a 2-0 victory against Germans Nils Ehlers and Lui Wüst.
