With eight innings left, seven teams were within seven points. Three weeks and four rounds later, Häcken, IFK Gothenburg and IFK Norrköping have dropped out. Now it is Djurgården (59 points), Malmö FF (56), Hammarby (53) and AIK (53) who settle for the SM gold 2019.
Here are six factors that can make the decision when the gold rush reaches the rally.
- shape
Djurgården had six straight wins before losing in a derby against AIK before the national team break. But after that, the blue ducks have taken 12 of 12 possible points and remain in the series lead. Malmö FF has advanced to second place via a total of five straight wins - and 13-0 in goal difference - and seems to be the strongest challenger. Also, the Hammarby trio is going strong and, just like Djurgården, has taken four consecutive wins after the national team break - and goal-happy "Bajen" has scored 16 goals in these matches. AIK, on the other hand, has swayed during the same period - and after two victories, a loss and a cross, the reigning champion has dropped to fourth place.
- Derby
Already on Sunday, Djurgården and Hammarby break in Stockholm in a very extraordinary derby event. At three points Djurgården not only takes a big step towards the first championship title since 2005 - in addition, Hammarby is hooked away from the gold fight. At Hammarbyseger, on the other hand, the fight is further accelerated - and then Malmö FF can pass Djurgården later on Sunday evening via victory against IFK Gothenburg.
- The schedule
Having worked out the simpler part of its concluding program on paper, tougher tasks for Djurgården now take place, where the aforementioned home-town against Hammarby obviously stands out. But away meetings with IFK Gothenburg and IFK Norrköping are also, to say the least, difficult. Malmö FF, in turn, meets both Hammarby and AIK - and in addition IFK Gothenburg - and will in addition double with Europa League games. For Hammarbys, in addition to Djurgården and MFF, the top team Häcken awaits. But "Bajen" meets all these three teams at home - away exchange with Djurgården is played at the Tele2 arena. AIK has perhaps the easiest remaining program in advance, despite the away meeting with Malmö FF. But on the other hand, resurrected Gif Sundsvall is a different team now than before.
- Suspensions
Of course, playing almost the entire season and only pulling two yellow cards is a feat as good as any. But since the Swedish rules still, despite 30 rounds to the number, the suspension stipulates already after a total of three yellow cards - instead of after five as in several other leagues - a warning in one of the closing matches can become fatal. Marcus Danielson and Astrit Ajdarevic (Djurgården), Jo Inge Berget and Guillermo Molins (Malmö FF), Muamer Tankovic and Mats Solheim (Hammarby) as well as Oscar Linnér and Enoch Kofi Adu (AIK) are some of the gold players' key players on two yellow cards and will be turned off at the next warning. Will we even see several situations where some players try to take a "tactical" yellow card to be turned off against "right" opposition?
- Goal difference
If two teams end on the same score, it is the goal difference that determines, and then the number of goals scored. Something that is very topical considering how smooth the table top is. AIK's +18 is by far the worst goal difference in the gold battle - to compare with Malmö FF's +34, Djurgården's +31 and Hammarbys +30. When it comes to the number of goals scored, Hammarby's 65 finishes are by far the best (then Malmö FF comes in at 48), but on the other hand, "Bajens" 35 is only seventh best in all Swedes. Malmö FF has thus combined the series so far the densest defensive (14 admitted) with being second best forward.
- form Players
When the fall leaves and temperature fall and the matches become crucial, some players are required to take an extra step and deliver. Regarding the offensive, it can be noted that all gold-chasing competitors have players who have found the top shape just enough for the decision. In Djurgården, new striker Emir Kujovic has already contributed three goals - and remembers that he settled the gold fight for IFK Norrköping 2015. In Malmö FF, Søren Rieks has scored four goals in the last four rounds and veteran Markus Rosenberg three. In Hammarby, Vladimir Rodic has got a kind of passionate snap. After zero starts and 14 innings, Rodic has started three of the last four games. The answer? Six of Hammarby's 16 most recent goals. In AIK, it is veteran Sebastian Larsson who has gone to the brink; the national team midfielder has scored three of "Gnagets" six recent goals.