Botheim hat-trick ends the drought
Malmö FF 5–2 Halmstads BK. That is the scoreline, and Erik Botheim is the story. Your striker scored three goals in eight minutes, the fastest hat-trick of his career (1) (8). First win in a month. First goals in a month. The relief is real.
Botheim was everywhere, six different goal celebrations, one for each of the ways he found the net on Saturday. "We work in the entertainment business," he said afterwards. He delivered (1) (4).
'There I beat him', Botheim on Haaland
Botheim and Erling Haaland grew up together. Now Botheim has something his old mate does not: the fastest hat-trick at senior level. "There I beat him," Botheim said (2). The record adds another layer to a performance that already felt like a turning point for your season.
Get the next Malmö FF brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Molins can't stay, rules block him
Guillermo Molins got the win in his debut as head coach, but he will not get the job permanently. League rules require a certain coaching licence Molins does not hold, and there is no expedited path around it. "To be completely honest, I don't think I have the opportunity to continue," Molins said (6).
He described the experience as "more dreamlike than in fantasy" (9). The search for a permanent manager continues, but Molins gave the squad and the supporters something they desperately needed: a win.
The bigger picture, still work to do
One win does not fix everything. Malmö sit 9th with 13 points from 10 games. The defensive issues that defined the losing run were still visible in spells against Halmstad (3). But the attacking breakthrough, five goals, Botheim rampant, is exactly what this team needed.
A columnist argued this week that Malmö should look closer to home for inspiration, studying IFK Göteborg's development approach rather than chasing Barcelona's model (5). It is a debate that will keep running. For now, the only thing that matters is that your team won.
Fan reactions
Supporters flooded Reddit with relief and excitement after the 5–2 win over Halmstad. The tone was pure catharsis, fans celebrated Botheim's eight-minute hat-trick as the moment the season finally turned, with many calling it the best individual performance they had seen in years. There was also widespread frustration over the news that Molins cannot continue as head coach despite the result, with several commenters questioning why the rules cannot be more flexible for someone who clearly connects with the squad.
