Hammarby 4-1 Malmo FF: A Stunning Statement in the Allsvenskan Title Race

Hammarby delivered a dominant performance at Tele2 Arena on May 17, 2026, crushing defending champions Malmo FF 4-1 to send a thunderous warning to the rest of the Allsvenskan. The result not only ended Malmo's five-match unbeaten run but also lifted the home side into serious title contention with a display of relentless attacking football.

Match Overview

The match began at a frenetic pace, with Hammarby pressing high and forcing early mistakes from the Malmo backline. Within the first 20 minutes, the home side had already carved out three clear chances, and it was no surprise when they took the lead through a well-worked set-piece routine. Malmo, missing key midfielder Anders Christiansen through injury, struggled to find their rhythm and were caught on the counter time and again.

Key Moments

• 12th minute: Hammarby's winger Nahir Besara curled a free kick just over the bar.
• 24th minute: GOAL! Gustav Ludwigson pounced on a loose ball after a corner, smashing home from close range – 1-0.
• 38th minute: GOAL! A swift counter-attack saw Hammarby double the lead. Besara slipped a through ball to Astrit Selmani, who finished coolly past Johan Dahlin – 2-0.
• 53rd minute: GOAL! Malmo pulled one back through Isaac Kiese Thelin, who headed in from a Sergio Peña cross – 2-1.
• 67th minute: GOAL! Hammarby restored their two-goal advantage. A defensive mix-up allowed Selmani to set up substitute Veton Berisha for a simple tap‑in – 3-1.
• 81st minute: GOAL! Berisha turned provider, crossing for Darijan Bojanić to volley home the fourth – 4-1.

Tactical Story

Hammarby's high-pressing game completely smothered Malmo's build-up play. Coach Kim Hellberg instructed his full-backs to push high, pinning Malmo's wingers back and creating numerical superiority in midfield. Malmo's attempts to play out from the back were repeatedly punished, with Hammarby winning the ball in dangerous areas. The visitors lacked creativity without Christiansen and too often resorted to long balls that were easily dealt with by the home centre‑backs.

Standout Players

Astrit Selmani was a constant menace, scoring one and assisting another. His movement off the ball stretched Malmo's defence throughout. Veton Berisha made an immediate impact off the bench, netting one and setting up another – a true supersub performance. For Malmo, only goalkeeper Johan Dahlin emerged with any credit, making several sharp saves to keep the score from becoming even more embarrassing.

Table Impact

The win propelled Hammarby into second place in the Allsvenskan standings, just three points behind leaders Djurgårdens IF. Malmo, despite the heavy loss, remained third but now face intense pressure to respond. With the title race wide open, this result could prove pivotal come October.