Mjallby stunned by Lincoln in first leg – now hunt for first win begins

Mjallby AIF stepped onto Strandvallen on Tuesday facing their first-ever European tie – but the opening leg against Lincoln Red Imps ended in a shock loss. On July 24 2026, the Hallevik side, fresh from winning Allsvenskan in 2025, now stare down a winless streak and a potential relegation battle after a disastrous start to the 2026 campaign.

What happened in the first leg?

Lincoln arrived in Sweden on a high. Since mid-February they have scored in 14 straight competitive games and have gone 19 matches unbeaten since January. They eased past Inter Club d’Escaldes 4-2 on aggregate in the first round and have now scored in both legs. Mjallby, by contrast, failed to find the net in their last outing, a goalless draw with VSK in Allsvenskan, and have now gone nine competitive fixtures without a clean sheet.

Head coach Karl Marius Aksum took over from Anders Torstensson this spring and now leads Mjallby into uncharted European waters. Yet despite their shock Allsvenskan title in 2025, the 2026 season has been a nightmare. After 13 rounds they sit closer to the bottom than the top with just seven points from 13 games. Last season Mjallby topped Allsvenskan with 75 points from 30 games and a +39 goal difference; this year they have managed 57 goals scored and 18 conceded – still a +39 swing. They now trail leaders Hammarby FF by 13 points.

Why this tie matters so much for Mjallby

For Mjallby this tie is about more than just reaching the next Champions League round. It’s about ending a crippling run of poor form and salvaging a season that has already slipped from title glory to relegation talk. Since mid-May winger Timo Stavitski has been sidelined, and leading scorer Jacob Bergström has gone six matches without a goal.

The home crowd at Strandvallen will be loud, but Lincoln will not roll over. The Gibraltarians already faced 15 shots on target across two qualifiers, so goalkeepers Nauzet Santana and Jaylan Hankins can expect plenty of work. Mjallby must rediscover their best football fast or risk slipping deeper into trouble before the return in Gibraltar.