Football Season Guide

Malmo start the 2018 season once again as overwhelming favourites to defend their title, and there doesn't look to be any other candidates that are able to match them in terms of spending and resources. Magnus Pehrsson's side were utterly dominant last season, and added insult to injury for their competitors by being able to snap up the very best talent of other Allsvenskan clubs as the season went along. The title was in the end a formality, and there's nothing to suggest the outcome will be any different this time around. Which is great for Malmo of course, but for Swedish domestic football overall it's rather more frustrating. Because while Malmo are dominating on the home front, they were nowhere to be seen in the Champions League qualifiers, and have a long way to go if they are to have any breakthrough on the big European stage. That will surely be the focus this season, and only if they lose focus on the domestic league while chasing down a Champions League spot will other Allsvenskan teams be able to get a look in. But the Malmo squad should be strong enough to compete on both domestic and European stages, particularly when looking at the quality of the other teams in the competition. There have been some key departures, with midfielder Anders Christiansen one of the biggest names to leave in the winter. But the likes of Arnor Traustason should fill the gap left in midfield nicely. Fouad Bachirou has also been recruited from Ostersunds, and he will also add something in the middle of the park. Eric Larsson, Egzon Binaku and Isak Ssewankambo should add necessary cover at the back