It's anybody’s race as the 2015 Allsvenskan heads into its final seven matches, with IFK Göteborg still the odds-on favorite to win a title most had ceded to Malmö FF just a few months ago.

Göteborg, the surprise leaders in May, have turned from a surprise into a juggernaut as the Blåvitt just keep winning. The Angels won their sixth-straight match Sept. 20, beating Hammarby 1-0 on a goal from Soren Rieks. The victory was the 16th in 24 matches to go along with five draws and just three losses. Despite the near run-away season, Göteborg holds a slim two-point lead over the real surprise team of the season, IFK Norrköping, which has won 15 matches out of 24 and has 51 points, coming from out of nowhere to mount a challenge for the Lennart Johansson trophy. AIK also has 51 points but sits in third place on goal difference. Elfsborg holds fourth place, a distant eight points back, while Malmö, the two-time defending league champions, is nine points behind Goteborg.

"There are no easy games any more in the Allsvenskan," said IFK Göteborg goalkeeper John Alvbåge. "The bottom teams can beat the top teams just as easily as the top can beat the bottom. All the teams this year are very strong and the league is a lot stronger. Yes, it’s a surprise that Norrköping is doing so well, but any team could be at the top."

Alvbåge is one the main reasons Göteborg holds its lead. The 33-year-old leads the league with a .895 save percentage and has 14 clean sheets. Göteborg has only surrendered 13 goals this season, also tops in the Allsvenskan.

"We’re playing with a lot of confidence," Alvbåge said. "Our defense is really part of our offense. I have gotten more involved in the attack than ever before, and now everyone defends, so when the other team does get off a shot, it’s usually an easy save for me."

The final six matches will be a test of Alvbåge's and Göteborg's confidence as the top-five teams all play one another. Göteborg played Elfsborg on September 24 and faces AIK October 26. Norrköping has matches with Elfsborg in October and ends the season at Malmö. AIK and Malmö lock horns on October 4.

"Every game now is like a final," Alvbåge said. "It’s not the championship — teams want to qualify for Europe as well so every game is important."

Malmö has a double task as it qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for the second-straight year. Malmö has played particularly well in Europe. The Sky Blues overcame a two-goal deficit in its first qualifying series with Red Bull Salzburg, wining at home 3-0 to advance. Malmö then faced Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic and after losing in Glasgow 3-2 beat the Scots 2-0 at Swedbank Arena. Playing a group with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Paris St. German and Christiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid as well Ukrainian champion Shaktar Donetsk, Malmö faces another huge task to get out of the group. Malmö dropped its opener at PSG 2-0 on September 16, although Zlatan did not score. Zlatan will make his club return to Sweden on November 25 when PSG plays at Swedbank Arena.

Malmö’s strong showing last year and the emphasis the team put on returning the Champions League this season might just cost the two-time defending champions a third straight title. Malmö struggled at the start of the season and appeared somewhat over confident. Despite scoring 45 goals in its 24 matches, Malmö had difficulty putting teams away, playing to eight draws. The loss of 16 potential points could well cost the Sky Blues not just the title but a return to European play. Since Göteborg won the Swedish Cup in May, three UEFA Europa League spots are up for grabs. Elfsborg currently holds the third UEFA qualifying slot.

"It’s going to be interesting," Alvbåge said. "We all play one another so there are a lot of points that anyone can win. It’s like I said, every game is a final."