Djurgården occupy Swedish summit

By Jan Juhlin

Djurgårdens IF won 3-1 at Malmö FF on Thursday to go top of the Swedish Allsvenskan as their opponents, the previous leaders and title favourites, struggle with the loss of several key players.

Rosenberg departure
Striker Markus Rosenberg will join AFC Ajax on 1 July after agreeing a four-year deal with the Dutch side. He was on target last night, in perhaps his penultimate game, breaking the deadlock on 36 minutes, but second-half strikes from Jones Kusi-Asare, Søren Larsen and Daniel Sjölund earned the visitors a deserved victory.

Skoog sidelined
The win took Djurgården above their opponents by one point. Things could get worse for the champions before they get better, as Rosenberg's departure comes just weeks after fellow forward Niklas Skoog was ruled out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.

Halmstad challenge
Third-placed Halmstads BK have shown there is life after Rosenberg, however, as they again find themselves in title contention. The 22-year-old Swedish international scored 14 goals while on loan from Malmö to help Halmstad to the runners-up spot in 2004, and with the exception of a shock 2-0 loss to newcomers Gefle IF, they have continued that form this season.

Göteborg frugality
Halmstad are three points behind Djurgården, along with Helsingborgs IF and IFK Göteborg. Göteborg are preparing for the approaching departure of defender Fredrik Risp to Turkish side Gençlerbirligi SK, but a record of one defeat and six goals conceded in their opening ten games suggests they can cope without him.

Häcken rise
BK Häcken lie sixth alongside last year's surprise package Kalmar FF as they make light of injuries to Teddy Lucic and Jesper Ljung and the suspension of Liberian Dulee Johnson. Fellow new boys Gefle and Assyriska Föreningen are faring less well, and identical runs of three defeats in four matches leave them propping up the table.

Svensson comeback
As expected, GIF Sundsvall look set to join them in a relegation battle, while Landskrona BoIS and Örgryte IS hover just above them as they struggle for consistency. Meanwhile, IF Elfsborg are heading in the right direction as Swedish international Anders Svensson prepares to make a long-awaited comeback. Former Norwich City FC striker Mathias Svensson will follow the ex-Southampton FC man to the new Borås Arena.