La Liga Weekly Power Rankings: Round 4

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You can probably guess who tops this week's La Liga power rankings, but what about the rest of the league?

Do you know who the second-best team in Spain is right now? Where do Real Madrid stand compared to the rest of the pack?

How will Malaga's great start affect their place in the rankings? And what about Sevilla, does beating the reigning champs make them the team to beat?

Four weeks after my Preseason Power Rankings, I am back to give you my weekly rankings.

The rankings are based on current form, recent results, fitness and mentality. They are not simply a copy of the league table.

If a team is in 10th place, for example, that means that all nine teams ahead of them could and would probably be expected to beat that team if they were to play right now.

This will now be a weekly series that I hope garners plenty of discussion, debate and insight from readers. I hope to hear your thoughts and impressions after reading the list.

20. Osasuna

Current Standing: 20th

Goal Differential: -5

Recent Results: 1-1 Mallorca

Upcoming Fixtures: Away vs. Zaragoza, September 22

This is going to be a long season for Osasuna. They were unfortunate not to get the full three points against Mallorca, but they have still been out played for most of the season.

A solid match against Barcelona was impressive, but they may have been playing above their ability then.

19. Real Zaragoza

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Current Standing: 17th

Goal Differential: -3

Recent Results: L 0-2 Real Sociedad

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Osasuna

The next match against Osasuna will show us if Zaragoza really are the second-worst team in the league or if they are just underachieving.

To this point, there is little consistency here. Their only win came against 10-man Espanyol after a dubious penalty was given.

18. Espanyol

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Current Standing: 19th

Goal Differential: -2

Recent Results: 3-3 Bilbao

Upcoming Fixtures: H vs. Granada, September 22

The Catalan club is not as bad as its record suggests, but it's not much better either.

Only Athletic Bilbao have allowed more than the 10 goals conceded by Los Periquitos this season. At the same time, Espanyol have also scored seven goals thus far, tied for fourth-most in Spain.

17. Granada

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Current Standing: 18th

Goal Differential: -4

Recent Results: 1-1 Deportivo

Upcoming Fixtures: Away vs. Espanyol, September 22

OK I admit it. I may have been a tiny bit too high on Granada coming into the season.

In my preseason power rankings, I had El Graná ranked 10th, calling them my dark horse for the season and expecting them to overachieve.

So far, Los Filipinos have had one of the league's worst defenses and have only scored two goals in four games. I might have been wrong...

16. Athletic Bilbao

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Current Standing: 15th

Goal Differential: -4

Recent Results: 3-3 Espanyol

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Ironi Kiryat Shmona, September 20 (Europa League); Home vs. Malaga, September 23

You might ask: How can I put last year's Europa League finalists and a team with eight goals in four games in 16th place?

I would respond, have you actually watched this defense play? Los Leones have the worst back line in Spain, having conceded 12 goals already.

While watching a shootout is always fun, Marcelo Bielsa's men are not going to get many wins if they have to score four goals to get three points.

Let's see how they do against Malaga next weekend.

15. Celta Vigo

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Current Standing: 16th

Goal Differential: -1

Recent Results: L 2-1 Valencia

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Getafe, September 22

The jury is still out on Celta. On one hand, they're just one point clear of the relegation zone.

On the other, they are a pretty talented squad and have played every match tough this season, but suffered last-minute defeats to two teams currently playing in Europe.

With the likes of Iago Aspas and Michael Krohn-Dheli in midfield, it seems only a matter of time before Celta start reeling off a few wins.

14. Levante

Current Standing: 14th

Goal Differential: -3

Recent Results: L 3-1 Malaga

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Helsingborgs IF, September 20 (Europa League); Home vs. Real Sociedad, September 23

I hope Granotes fans enjoy their Europa League run this season. If Levante continue to play this inconsistently, they won't be back in Europe next season.

After starting the season with a tough draw against Atletico Madrid, the Frogs got beaten convincingly by Valladolid and Malaga. They also needed an own goal to get three points from Espanyol.

Going into the season, we knew Levante would not be a top team, but we thought the same thing last year and look what happened.

13. Valladolid

Current Standing: 9th

Goal Differential: 0

Recent Results: L 0-1 Betis

Upcoming Fixtures: Away vs. Atletico Madrid, September 23

Valladolid checked in above their weight class two weeks ago when they shut out Levante, but the more honest assessment came in their last two matches.

La Pucela failed to score against the worst defense in the league when they lost by two goals to Bilbao, but played Betis very tough for 89 minutes before Ruben Castro stole a win just before time.

They have given up as many goals as Barcelona, but have only had three to show themselves.

12. Real Madrid

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Current Standing: 12th

Goal Differential: +1

Recent Results: L 1-0 Sevilla

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Manchester City, September 18 (Champions League); Away vs. Rayo Vallecano, September 23

When I ranked Real Madrid first in my Preseason Power Rankings, I honestly thought they could hold that spot all season long. In my mind, only a direct loss to Barcelona would unseat them.

Wow was I wrong! I can't feel too bad about it, though. I doubt anyone saw this disaster coming.

Through the first four league matches, Real Madrid have lost two and have just one victory against lowly Granada to their name.

They've been outplayed in four of their six matches and have scored fewer goals than Lionel Messi.

They are still very much in the title chase, but a couple more slip-ups and La Liga could be decided before midseason.

11. Getafe

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Current Standing: 13th

Goal Differential: -3

Recent Results: L 1-4 Barcelona

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Celta, September 22

Getafe are exactly what we expect from a mid-table Spanish team. They have some solid talent, but few great players. They can hang with the best in the league one week only to get blown out the next.

They may have been demolished in the second half by La Blaugrana, but El Geta kept the Catalans quiet for roughly an hour.

Now that their difficult first month's schedule is in the books, the Madrid-based club could be fighting for top-six spot through December.

10. Real Sociedad

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Current Standing: 10th

Goal Differential: -2

Recent Results: W 2-0 Zaragoza

Upcoming Fixtures: Away vs. Levante, September 23

Now we come to the best team in Basque Country—and it's not Bilbao.

Real Sociedad have established themselves as a Europa League contender and are a fun side to watch.

They're a fairly balanced squad who have an exciting front four who could score a lot of goals this season.

9. Deportivo La Coruna

Current Standing: 8th

Goal Differential: +2

Recent Results: 1-1 Granada

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Sevilla, September 22

If not for an awful second-half performance from Valencia, Los Turcos would be sitting in 11th place, at best.

There are definitely a lot of positive signs from Depor and they are playing very well for a newly promoted team, but the defense has to be a bit more disciplined.

Nonetheless, their start to the season has been a great success so far.

8. Valencia

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Current Standing: 11th

Goal Differential: 0

Recent Results: W 2-1 Celta

Upcoming Fixtures: Away vs. Bayern Munich, September 19 (Champions League); Away vs. Mallorca, September 23

Los Che finally got their first win of the season against Celta and the timing could not have been better.

The Valencians had been in the relegation zone before that, but kept the faith knowing they were better than their two points suggested.

While the second-half collapse against Depor was worrisome, playing the top two teams in Spain so closely has to give them confidence going forward.

7. Rayo Vallecano

Current Standing: 6th

Goal Differential: +1

Recent Results: L 3-4 Atletico Madrid

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Real Madrid, September 23

So it looks like I was wrong about Granada fighting for a top-10 spot. I was also apparently wrong about Los Vallecanos being the worst team in Spain. Is it too late to change my mind?

At this point, Los Franjirrojos are the second-best team in Madrid. They got a good whooping against Atletico Madrid, but almost turned around a four-goal deficit in the final 30 minutes.

That, unfortunately, wasn't the first time Rayo avoided a demolition. The week before, the Madrid side needed Sevilla to miss two penalties just to manage a goalless draw.

With an ornery Real Madrid side coming to Vallecas next weekend, Los Franjirrojos could go their third staright week without a win.

6. Real Betis

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Current Standing: 7th

Goal Differential: +2

Recent Results: W 1-0 Valladolid

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Espanyol, September 22

Betis are a bit handicapped because they've only played three matches, but that may actually be to their benefit since that match would have been against Atletico Madrid.

Los Verdiblancos have already scored seven goals in their three games and Ruben Castro has earned a reputation as a heartbreaker because of his knack for clutch goals.

His most recent drama-filled boot came in the 89th minute against Valladolid. Those are the kinds of wins that give a lot of momentum in upcoming fixtures.

5. Mallorca

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Current Standing: 3rd

Goal Differential: +2

Recent Results: 1-1 Osasuna

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Valencia, September 23

Do you know who is currently second in the Pichichi race behind Lionel Messi, tied with Falcao with four goals? If you guessed Tomer Hemed, congratulations!

The Israeli striker has been immense so far. Hemed is responsible for 80 percent of Los Bermellones's goals to this point and is the biggest reason they are currently in third place.

Many La Liga fans have just come to expect such overachievement from Joaquin Caparros, but the Balearic Islanders need more offensive diversity if they are going to keep this up.

4. Sevilla

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Current Standing: 4th

Goal Differential: +2

Recent Results: W 1-0 Real Madrid

Upcoming Fixtures: Away vs. Deportivo, September 22

If beating the reigning champs and turning frustrating them for 90-plus minutes doesn't inspire confidence, nothing will.

To this point, the biggest weakness with Sevilla is themselves. They are playing to the level of the opposition instead of to their own ability.

If not for two—that's right, two—missed penalties against Rayo a few weeks ago, Los Rojiblancos would be tied with Malaga in second place.

3. Malaga

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Current Standing: 2nd

Goal Differential: +4

Recent Results: W 3-1 Levante

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Zenit St. Petersburg, September 18 (Champions League); Away vs. Athletic Bilbao, September 23

My, my, my. If the first month of play is a sign of things to come from Malaga, we are in for one of the best seasons in that team's history.

As I said in my weekly La Liga review, Malaga are playing like a team with nothing to lose.

Whether it's Fabrice Olinga becoming the youngest scorer in league history with a late game-winner, Juanmi scoring his first senior goal or Javier Saviola sending La Rosaleda into a frenzy with his first, this team is overloaded with emotion.

2. Atletico Madrid

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Current Standing: 5th

Goal Differential: +5

Recent Results: W 4-3 Rayo Vallacano

Upcoming Fixtures: Away vs. Hapoel, September 20 (Europa League); Home vs. Valladolid, September 23

Diego Simeone's men have only played three games, but have still managed nine goals in that span, second only to Barcelona.

If they hadn't fallen asleep in the last 30 minutes of their match against Rayo, Los Colchoneros would be level with Barcelona on goal differential.

Their only poor play came in the opener against Levante, but considering they were playing at an hour when most players are usually sleeping, that does not reflect their quality at all.

With 12 goals in their last three matches—four against the reigning European champions—the rest of the league better watch out because Atleti pack quite a punch.

1. Barcelona

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Current Standing: 1st

Goal Differential: +9

Recent Results: W 4-1 Getafe

Upcoming Fixtures: Home vs. Spartak Moscow, September 19 (Champions League); Away vs. Sevilla, September 29

I thought Tito Vilanova's men would struggle to overtake Real Madrid for a few weeks at the very least. Fortunately for Cules, I was dead wrong.

La Blaugrana are the best team in Spain right now and it will take more than a head-to-head win for anyone to overtake them.

It only took four weeks for Barcelona to yet again become the class of La Liga. And this without them playing their best football yet.

They are getting better every week, they are deep, and perhaps most importantly, they are healthy. They might stay on top of La Liga all season.

 

Please also read my Weekly La Liga Review which gives Weekly Awards, the Best Starting XI for Round 4 and coverage of the biggest stories of the week in Spain.

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