IFK Göteborg–Malmö FF rivalry

Mesta Mästarmötet
IFK Göteborg and Malmö FF in the 2022 Allsvenskan
LocationGothenburg and Malmö
TeamsIFK Göteborg
Malmö FF
First meeting18 June 1922
Svenska Serien
IFK Göteborg 5–0 Malmö FF
Latest meeting28 October 2024
Allsvenskan
Malmö FF 2–1 IFK Göteborg
Next meetingTBA
Statistics
Meetings totalCompetitive: 188
Most winsMalmö FF (81)
All-time seriesIFK Göteborg: 65
Drawn: 42
Malmö FF: 81
Largest victory11 September 1949
Allsvenskan
IFK Göteborg 2–9 Malmö FF

Although not technically a derby, the fixture between IFK Göteborg and Malmö FF is one of the fiercest sporting rivalries in Swedish football, sometimes referred to as the "Mesta mästarmötet" (English: Clash of the greatest champions).[1]

The two clubs are the most successful in Swedish football; Malmö FF have won 24 Swedish championship titles, an all time Swedish record, while IFK Göteborg have won 18 titles.[2]

The two clubs top the All-time Allsvenskan table with Malmö FF being 174 points ahead of IFK Göteborg after the conclusion of the 2023 season.[3] Together they have won 42 Swedish championships, 40 Allsvenskan titles and 24 Svenska Cupen titles. Only AIK have played more seasons in Allsvenskan than the two clubs.

The two clubs are also the only Swedish clubs to have reached the final of European competition, IFK Göteborg won the UEFA Cup in 1981–82 and again in 1986–87 while Malmö FF were runners-up in the 1978–79 European Cup.[4][5][6]

Shared player history

Transfers

The two lists are incomplete.

There have been few direct transfers between the rivals, the most recent transfer was on 12 January 2018.

Date Name From To
22 January 2003[7] Jon Inge Høiland IFK Göteborg Malmö FF
17 November 2003[8] Peter Ijeh Malmö FF IFK Göteborg
14 July 2005[9] Thomas Olsson Malmö FF IFK Göteborg
12 January 2018[10] Søren Rieks IFK Göteborg Malmö FF

There have also been a few players who have played for both clubs although transferred via another club.

Name From Period Via To Period
Robert Prytz Malmö FF 1977–1982
1993–1995 		Rangers IFK Göteborg 1985–1986
Dan Corneliusson IFK Göteborg 1978–1983 Stuttgart
Como
FC Wettingen 		Malmö FF 1990–1992
Joakim Persson Malmö FF 1992–1996 Atalanta IFK Göteborg 1998–1999
Mats Lilienberg IFK Göteborg 1995–1996 Halmstads BK Malmö FF 2000–2002
Mathias Ranégie IFK Göteborg 2007–2008 BK Häcken
Go Ahead Eagles 		Malmö FF 2011–2012
Tobias Sana IFK Göteborg 2009–2012
2019–2022 		Ajax Malmö FF 2015–2017
Simon Thern Malmö FF 2012–2014 Heerenveen
AIK
IFK Norrköping 		IFK Göteborg 2021-2023

Played for one, managed the other

Manager Played for Managed
Team Span Team Span
Roland Nilsson IFK Göteborg 1983–1989 Malmö FF 2008–2011
Michael Andersson IFK Göteborg 1986–1988 Malmö FF 2000–2001

Managed both clubs

Manager IFK Göteborg career Malmö FF career
Span G1 W D L Win % Span G1 W D L Win %
Austria Josef Stroh 1959–1960 33 18 6 9 054.5 1955–1958 87 44 21 22 050.6
Sweden Roland Nilsson 2020–2021 23 7 10 6 030.4 2008–2011 109 54 24 31 049.5

1 Only competitive matches are counted.

Statistics

IFK Göteborg wins Draws Malmö FF wins
League 63 42 72
Svenska Cupen 2 0 8
Svenska Supercupen 0 0 1
Total 65 42 81
Table correct as of 28 October 2024

Last five head-to-head fixtures

Date Home Team Score Away Team Venue Competition
17 November 2022 IFK Göteborg 2–1 Malmö FF Gamla Ullevi Allsvenskan
17 April 2023 IFK Göteborg 0–1 Malmö FF Gamla Ullevi Allsvenskan
3 September 2023 Malmö FF 2–2 IFK Göteborg Stadion Allsvenskan
13 May 2024 IFK Göteborg 0–3 Malmö FF Gamla Ullevi Allsvenskan
28 October 2024 Malmö FF 2–1 IFK Göteborg Stadion Allsvenskan

Honours

Team Allsvenskan Svenska Cupen Supercupen Total
Malmö FF 26 15 2 43
IFK Göteborg 13 8 1 22
Combined 39 23 3 65
Table correct as of 27 November 2023

All-time results

1 Awarded 0-3 after the original match had been suspended with the score at a 0–0 as a result of a spectator scandal.[11]
2 The match was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden.
3 The match was played with limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden.

Results at home in Cup matches

Date Venue Attendance Matches Competition
Team 1 Score Team 2
28 June 1970 Malmö Stadion 3,611 Malmö FF
2–1
 IFK Göteborg Svenska Cupen (preliminary round)
8 November 1975 Malmö Stadion 2,799 Malmö FF
2–1
 IFK Göteborg Svenska Cupen (quarter-final)
29 October 1977 Ullevi 11,997 IFK Göteborg
2–3
 Malmö FF Svenska Cupen (round 6)
9 May 1984 Malmö Stadion 8,833 Malmö FF
4–1
 IFK Göteborg Svenska Cupen (quarter-final)
7 June 1989 Ullevi 4,411 IFK Göteborg
0–2
 Malmö FF Svenska Cupen (semi-final)
6 May 1999 Malmö Stadion 4,676 Malmö FF
1–2
 IFK Göteborg Svenska Cupen (semi-final)
27 April 2001 Gamla Ullevi 5,528 IFK Göteborg
1–2
 Malmö FF Svenska Cupen (quarter-final)
10 November 2013 Swedbank Stadion 2,787 Malmö FF
3–2
 IFK Göteborg Svenska Supercupen
10 March 2018 Malmö IP 4,135 Malmö FF
1–0
 IFK Göteborg Svenska Cupen (quarter-final)
30 July 2020 Gamla Ullevi 01 IFK Göteborg
2–1
 Malmö FF Svenska Cupen (Final)
Malmö FF wins IFK Göteborg wins
8
2

1 The match was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden.

Results at neutral venues

Date Venue Attendance Matches Competition
Team 1 Score Team 2
2 July 1986 Råsunda 11,656 Malmö FF
2–1
 IFK Göteborg Svenska Cupen (Final)
Malmö FF wins IFK Göteborg wins
1
0

References

  1. ^ "Malmö FF vs Göteborg". mff.se (in Swedish). Malmö FF. 2 October 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Svenska mästare 1896-1925, 1931-". svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Allsvenska maratontabellen 1924/25-2010". svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  4. ^ "1981/82: Eriksson plots Göteborg success". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  5. ^ "1986/87: IFK back on top". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  6. ^ "1978/79: Forest join élite club". uefa.com. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  7. ^ "Höiland klar för Malmö FF". expressen.se (in Swedish). Expressen. 22 January 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Peter Ijeh klar för IFK Göteborg". aftonbladet.se (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. 17 November 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  9. ^ "Olsson överens med IFK Göteborg". svenskafans.com (in Swedish). Svenskafans. 14 July 2005. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  10. ^ "Välkommen till Malmö FF, Sören Rieks!". mff.se (in Swedish). Malmö FF. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  11. ^ "IFK Göteborg 0–3 Malmö FF". svenskfotboll.se. The Swedish Football Association. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
Bibliography

Smitt, Rikard (2009). Ända sen gamla dagar... (in Swedish). Project Management. ISBN 978-91-633-5767-1.

Notes