During the 80s, there were few who could measure up to IFK Gothenburg.
And especially against Torbjörn Nilsson.
The best example of that was when “God” had a total playhouse against FC Barcelona itself.
Sure, the return match in that return match in the European Cup semi-final in 1986 may not have been what IFK Göteborg had hoped for. But during the first meeting, at home in Gothenburg, Blåvitt showed why they were then classified as one of the absolute best teams in the world.
Did what he wanted
The 80s was a single great wave of success for IFK Göteborg, which constantly challenged football Europe’s biggest giants. With icons such as Glenn Hysén, Glenn Strömberg, Glenn Schiller, Torbjörn Nilsson, Johnny Ekström, Roland Nilsson and Stefan Pettersson, they were sometimes unbeatable. In 1982, IFK Gothenburg won the European Cup, and a few years later it was time for the next big international success.
After wins against, among others, Fenerbahce and Aberdeen, the great team FC Barcelona awaited in the semi-finals, and in the first meeting, as mentioned earlier, it went like a dream. And not least for Torbjörn Nilsson. He was then and there perhaps Europe’s most toxic goalscorer, and in the semi-final against Barcelona he showed his full record. In Blåvitt, many of the players were amateurs, and had jobs on the side. Little difference to the dragon Barcelona, full of professionals.
READ MORE: Torbjörn Nilsson names Sweden’s best soccer player of all time – “God” reveals his own favorite
Total playhouse
But that didn’t bother Torbjörn Nilsson, who had perhaps the strongest match of his career. Nilsson scored the first goal after 24 minutes, on pure power. The second goal, which came 20 minutes later, was pure display, where Nilsson received the ball, turned around and pounded the ball into the net. In the second half, Tommy Holmgren made the final score 3-0 – but this was Torbjörn Nilsson’s game.
It was certainly 3-0 to Barcelona in the second leg, and when the match went to penalties, the Catalans drew the longer straw. But for Torbjörn Nilsson it was still a shooting league win with a mighty seven goals scored – during a time when “God” was the biggest in Europe. So incredibly powerful!
READ MORE: The Englishmen drop their jaws when Svennis selects his absolute favorite player: “He was the best! Huh!?”