Pawel Cibicki is yet to make his mark for Leeds United – though the same cannot be said for his successor at Swedish champions Malmo.
Another season, another domestic crown for Sweden’s most successful football club. The Sky Blues sealed their 23rd Allsvenskan title with a 3-1 win away at Norrkoping on Monday, ensuring they hold an unassailable 10 point lead over nearest challengers AIK with just three games remaining.
And the fact that Malmo did all this without Pawel Cibicki is even more impressive. The 23-year-old was one of the club’s standout players in the 2017 season but, with just a third of the campaign remaining, Cibicki defected for Leeds United in August.
Though the Polish-born Swedish striker hasn’t exactly hit the ground running at Elland Road. Cibicki has played just once for the Championship side, coming in the EFL Cup win over Burnley last month, and is still awaiting his league debut despite being only one of two fully fit strikers at Leeds’ disposal.
His replacement at Malmo however, Carlos Strandberg, has not waited around to ensure Cibicki has been forgotten at his former club. The pressure was on the Swedish Under-21 international to fill the boots left by Cibicki’s exit and it’s fair to say he has passed the test with flying colours.
Strandberg, who signed from Club Brugge in August, scored his first goal for Malmo against Norrkoping on Monday and what a time to get it.
It was the 21-year-old’s equaliser which set Malmo on their way to the title and earned him a place in club folklore.
Cibicki, meanwhile, may be looking back with a hint of jealousy as he waits for his Championship chance.
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