Fuente : UEFA (English)
http://www.uefa.com/

Football Europe: Göteborg rise to Swedish bait

/noticias.info/ A recent slump in form for champions Djurgårdens IF has left the Swedish title race wide open.

Stuttering form
A month ago, Djurgården looked to be cruising to the championship, with a four-point lead over second-placed Malmö FF, but the departure of top striker Sören Larsen to FC Schalke 04 seems to have unsettled them. The point collected from the 2-2 derby draw against Hammarby IF on 4 August was the only one they have taken from the last three games.

Göteborg rampage
With Djurgården faltering, IFK Göteborg have found their form in no uncertain terms. Göteborg's mix of youth and experience - with 21-year-old centre-half Karl Svensson helping veteran goalkeeper Bengt Andersson keep eleven clean sheets in 17 Allsvenskan games - has allowed them to overcome the departures of Peter Ijeh and Fredrik Risp.

Southern comfort
They sit one point clear of Djurgården in top spot with south of Sweden sides Malmö FF and Helsingborgs IF a further point adrift. The latter would have been first had they not lost 2-0 at home to Göteborg, while UEFA Cup football may be a distraction for Malmö, who recently bolstered their squad with the signings of Anders Andersson and Finnish legend Jari Litmanen.

Elfsborg crumble
Meanwhile, Hammarby, IF Elfsborg, BK Häcken and Kalmar FF are losing touch with the leading pack due to a lack of consistency. Elfsborg had looked set for a fine run in June, but lost the plot as well as homecoming hero Anders Svensson, who suffered a knee injury sidelining him for six weeks.

Örgryte stabilise
Further down the table, Örgryte IS seem to have stopped the rot after switching to a 4-3-3 formation, lying level on points with tenth-placed Gefle IF who have lost just one of their last six matches. The two teams are currently two points above inconsistent Landskrona BoIS.

Relegation mire
Last season's runners-up Halmstads BK are having a miserable time. Having lost star player Markus Rosenberg, they have claimed only one point from seven outings and occupy the relegation play-off place, third from bottom. GIF Sundsvall and Assyriska Föreningen are below them, but Sundsvall will expect to improve their fortunes as they play both relegation rivals in upcoming games. "We have to win those matches or it will be very tough," said sporting director Urban Hagblom. notas_de_prensa_archivo