Malmö started the giant meeting best and created a couple of dangerous chances immediately.
A Malmö that came to the start without attacking star Isaac Kiese Thelin - who was left out of the squad due to a minor injury.
Ola Toivonen dotted the crossbar after eight minutes of play and Lasse Nielsen was also close to giving the home team the lead but dotted the post.
On the return, Sören Rieks put the ball in the net but the goal was not approved as the Dane was in offside position.
The home team did not come any closer than that and the first half ended goalless - despite Malmö's great dominance.
The captain replaced injured
Early in the second half, Malmö would break the deadlock.
Gothenburg's Simon Thern got the ball on his arm in the penalty area and referee Andreas Ekberg blew a penalty.
Anders Christiansen stepped forward and certainly put 1-0.
But in the 62nd minute of the match Christiansen had to break the match when he fell over in a duel and was left lying on the grass.
Shortly afterwards, he received help from the pitch with a wrapped left thigh.
17-year-old talent Hugo Larsson came in for the Dane.
Gothenburg's Mikael Stahre acted shortly after the 1-0 goal and made a triple change, but the guests could not get to a great position despite that.
Malmö thus took its second straight victory and passes Gothenburg.