Swedish Allsvenskan Round 10: Mjallby's Three-Back Formation Shows Dominance, Goteborg Needs Defensive Overhaul

In the closing round of last season, Goteborg secured their survival in the safety zone only after a victory. Their situation this season hasn't improved, currently languishing in the relegation zone with one game in hand. Only a win in this round can lift them back to safety. Meanwhile, Mjallby has been on a strong run lately, with three wins and one draw in their last four matches. A victory in this fixture would propel them back into the European competition spots.

Goteborg faced Sirius in the last round, where defensive errors cost them dearly. The first instance came in the 35th minute when a cross from the right was deflected by Goteborg's center-back, Karen, towards the goal line. Goalkeeper Bisesa initially thought he could reach the ball, moving quickly towards it, but the ball's spin became evident, and Bisesa realized he couldn't make it in time, thus retreating back into his goal. By then, Karen had abandoned his chase, allowing Sirius' right-back, Persson, to intercept and decisively cross the ball into the center where Noel had an easy tap-in.

The second goal conceded was due to a defensive lapse. Goteborg's left midfielder, Todason, was initially tracking Sirius' striker, Saleh, during their advance into the penalty area. Once inside, Todason believed the responsibility of marking should shift to center-back Karen. Yet again, Karen didn't share the same view, leaving Goteborg's defense with four players inside the penalty area, but none marking Saleh, the sole attacking player present. Saleh calmly received a pass from his teammate and slotted home.

In contrast to their defensive struggles, Goteborg's attacking prowess was more potent, with both their goals coming from team-built combinations. Mjallby, in their last outing against Hammarby, dominated from the start. After a tentative opening 20 minutes, Mjallby unleashed a 20-minute surge starting from the 24th minute, during which they scored three goals, securing a comfortable lead going into halftime. Although they didn't add to their tally in the second half, they didn't allow Hammarby any significant chances to mount a comeback, maintaining their three-goal advantage until the final whistle.

Mjallby has been prolific in their recent four matches, scoring three goals in three of those games, showcasing their formidable attacking prowess. Currently, they rank fourth in the Swedish Allsvenskan for total goals scored, yet only one Mjallby player features in the top 20 goal scorers (at the 20th position), highlighting their diverse attacking threats. Last season, Mjallby managed only 32 goals throughout the entire campaign, just slightly more than the two teams directly relegated.

While enhancing their offensive capabilities, coach Tosteson has successfully retained the team's solid defensive traits from last season. Currently, they are one of only three teams in the Allsvenskan to have conceded fewer than 20 goals. Tosteson's three-center-back formation has grown increasingly mature. He had previously coached Mjallby twice but failed to surpass a year due to poor results. Finally, in 2023, he found the tactical approach that suited the team.

Both teams secured away victories against each other last season. Currently, Mjallby's form appears significantly superior to Goteborg's. Mjallby is expected to perform at three-quarters of their full strength away from home, while Goteborg may only muster a counterattack with a quarter of their strength.