August 2026:
We are now 18 games down in Sweden’s top division, and things are beginning to take shape.
IK Sirius remain top of the tree despite their first two defeats of the campaign, Hammarby, the nearest challengers are now uncomfortably in their rear-view mirror and the race for European places has become a fascinating six-club scramble.
Looking further down and into the basement, Halmstads BK are in serious trouble, while Örgryte and Degerfors are beginning to feel the pressure of the relegation battle.
At the time of writing, the most recent fixture was Djurgården’s emphatic 3-0 victory away to Malmö,this lifted the Stockholm club to fourth on 29 points.
Sirius have 42, Hammarby 36 and Häcken 31. It’s close. It’s enthralling.
The European picture has also developed an interesting narrative-Malmö have qualified for the Europa League league phase, Djurgården have secured Conference League football, while Mjällby are still fighting the Austrians from Salzburg for a Europa League place. Hammarby and IFK Göteborg have already been eliminated.
Back to domestic matters and below is a look at the order of things in the league campaign….