Coming off of an international break, all eyes were at the top of the Damallsvenskan table as both FC Rosengård and Linköpings FC remained neck and neck.
At the other end of the spectrum, KIF Örebro, Mallbackens IF, Umeå IK and Kristianstads DFF were all fighting to further themselves away from the relegation places.
The top two continue to set the pace
Malmö was the focus of a lot of attention this weekend as many were hoping to see new signing, Swedish superstar Lotta Schelin in the colours of the team for the first time but she was not listed in the matchday roster.
Rosengård had no problems dispatching KIF Örebro without her though, recording a routine 3-0 win at home. Emma Berglund, who continues her fine form in this campaign, Sara Gunnarsdottir and Ella Masar picked up the goals for the home team. The win leaves Rosengård at the top of the Damallsvenskan on goal difference.
Linköping may have been playing away from home, but they too showed no signs of slowing down and came away as 4-1 winners over a solid Piteå IF outfit. Tempest Norlin opened the scoring in the match for Piteå in the tenth minute, but Renee Slegers immediately tied things up for the visitors with her first goal of the season.
Stina Blackstenius, red-hot Danish striker Pernille Harder and Kristine Minde all then grabbed themselves a goal apiece in the second half to give Linköping all three points. The win leaves Linköping level on points with Rosengård as the two battle it out for the title.
Mallbacken push ahead
A vital 1-1 draw against Vittsjö GIK saw Mallbacken climb further away from the relegation zone. Scotland's Zoe Ness opened her account for the season as Mallbacken took the lead in the fifth minute. Nigerian international Josephine Chiwendu found the equaliser for Vittsjö in the 44th minute and that was the end of the goal-scoring in this match. Mallbacken are now two points away from the relegation zone and will look to push on from here.
Elsewhere, Djurgårdens IF completed a 2-0 nil win over Kristianstads which left the relegation outfit three points away from safety and right at the bottom of the table. Djurgårdens were looking to bounce back from their loss in the previous round, and goals from Mia Jalkerud and Hanna Lundqvist ensured the win for the home side.
Sitting one point above Kristianstads, Umeå could do nothing as they were rolled over by a Kvarnsvedens IK side that were looking to find form again. The home side managed to put three past Kristianstads, with the goals coming from in-form Malawian striker Tabita Chawinga, who got a brace, and Marie Salander. Lotta Ökvist got the solitary goal for Umeå.
The last match of the round saw a goalless draw between Eskilstuna United and Göteborg FC. Neither team would have wanted just the one point from the match, but Göteborg may have come away the happier side as they were away from home and the point edged them closer to Djurgårdens, who sit in fourth place.
