MALMO, Sweden (Interstat) — Hammarby opened its Allsvenskan campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over rivals Malmo FF on Monday, defying pregame projections in a dominant display at a rain-swept Eleda Stadion.

The visitors, who were surprisingly listed as heavy favorites by statistical models before the match, lived up to that advanced billing with a clinical performance, handing Malmo a defeat to start its season. The result immediately gives Hammarby a crucial upper hand in the early standings and the intense rivalry between the two clubs.

The match, played on Oct. 27, 2025, was effectively decided in a blistering first half where Hammarby capitalized on its opportunities to build a commanding lead.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute from an unlikely source. Substitute Nahir Besara, who had entered the match early, made an immediate impact by firing Hammarby into the lead. The goal was a testament to the team’s depth, with midfielder Sead Haksabanovic registering the assist on the play.

Hammarby’s momentum only grew, and they doubled their advantage just nine minutes later. In the 26th minute, Paulos Abraham found the net to stun the home crowd and put Malmo in a significant early hole.

Malmo struggled to find a response, and their frustrations began to show. Oscar Lewicki was shown a yellow card in the 33rd minute for a foul that halted a promising Hammarby attack. Just before the halftime whistle, the visitors delivered what felt like a knockout blow. In the first minute of stoppage time, Jens Stryger Larsen scored Hammarby’s third goal, sending the teams into the break with the score a lopsided 3-0.

Any hope of a Malmo comeback was complicated by a flurry of disciplinary actions early in the second half. Haksabanovic, who had been instrumental in the first goal, received a yellow card in the 50th minute. Just two minutes later, Malmo’s veteran defender Pontus Jansson was also booked as the home side’s exasperation mounted.

Hammarby substitute Pavle Vagic, who would later be booked himself in the 69th minute, etched his name into the stat sheet with an assist on Malmo’s lone consolation goal. Ironically, it was a Hammarby player who set up the opposition, as Vagic’s pass led to a goal by Martin Olsson in the 58th minute, breaking the clean sheet but doing little to change the match’s outcome.

The final score of 3-1 stood as a stark contrast to the pregame simulation from Interstat, which had projected a 2-1 victory for the home side. The same outlet’s ELO rating system, however, had given Hammarby a 73.40 percent probability to win, a forecast that proved far more accurate on the afternoon.

The victory gives Hammarby a perfect start to the Allsvenskan season with one win and zero losses. Malmo FF, one of Sweden’s most decorated clubs, begins its campaign in the opposite fashion, sitting at zero wins and one loss. The records for both teams are identical across all competitions for the new season.

Key performances underpinned the result. Besara’s early goal as a substitute set the tone, while Haksabanovic’s creative influence was evident with his assist. Vagic, despite a late yellow card, contributed with an assist, and Lewicki also recorded an assist before his first-half booking.

The match leaves Hammarby with early momentum in the Swedish top flight, while Malmo is left to regroup after a disappointing start in front of their home supporters.