Power Ranking the Top 25 European Clubs After Weekend of January 10-11
Welcome to the latest edition of our European club rankings. We rank the top teams on the continent based on seasonal form and squad strength.
The Bundesliga clubs still have two weeks to prepare for their second act and are still frozen, but a frantic slate of Serie A action, along with two of the top four beating each other, has made for quite the shake-up.
Disagree with our order? Join the conversation in the comments below!
Honourable Mentions
1 of 26
Honourable Mentions
Liverpool—the form is picking up, watch this space...
Tottenham Hotspur—a loss at Selhurst Park stopped them from entering the top order
Lazio—a draw with Roma was a serious show of strength
Saint-Etienne—very unlucky not to be in the top 25, particularly given Monaco (Champions League the deciding factor) are in
25. Villarreal
2 of 26
Last Week: 25
Differential: -
Villarreal's draw with Malaga was disappointing. Both sides essentially accepted a tie after 80 minutes and sat on the single point earned, with the former in particular lacking the little something required in the box.
There are clubs listed on the previous page who are knocking on the door of the top 25. The Yellow Submarine are on red alert here.
24. Valencia
3 of 26
Last Week: 22
Differential: -2
Valencia's win over Real Madrid last week was a momentous achievement, but a failure to beat Celta Vigo—a team who previously hadn't scored in eight Liga games—goes down as a major disappointment.
We've spoken here before about how Los Che are naturally a little too cautious. Perhaps moving away from the three-man defensive system seen in the last two games caused a few issues here.
23. Monaco
4 of 26
Last Week: 24
Differential: +1
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Since their 2-0 loss away at Stade Rennais back in late November, AS Monaco have been in great form. Leonardo Jardim's men have racked up six wins in their last eight games and are progressing on all fronts.
"A 0-0 draw at home against Girondins de Bordeaux was perhaps not the perfect start to 2015 that the Portuguese tactician was hoping for, but he will be delighted that his team kept yet another clean sheet. Les Monegasques have shut their opponents out in seven of those last eight games are are proving incredibly tough to crack at present. If they can maintain this defensive solidity, they will rise further."
22. Ajax
5 of 26
Last Week: 21
Differential: -1
Ajax are on a short winter break and will resume service on January 16 versus Groningen.
21. PSV Eindhoven
6 of 26
Last Week: 20
Differential: -1
PSV Eindhoven are on a short winter break and will resume service on January 17 versus Vitesse.
20. Southampton
7 of 26
Last Week: 23
Differential: +3
Southampton recorded a huge victory this weekend, strolling out of Old Trafford with three points after masterfully nullifying Louis van Gaal's Manchester United.
The Saints now hit the January midpoint in third place in the Premier League, have temporarily replaced the influential Sadio Mane with Eljero Elia and continue to move onward, from strength to strength.
19. Napoli
8 of 26
Last Week: 17
Differential: -2
Napoli beat Cesena 4-1 midweek away from home but were outclassed at home to Juventus in Sunday's biggest Serie A game.
Ivan Strinic wasn't quite ready to come in at left-back (although Miguel Britos played there and scored), while Christian Maggio looks past his best in truth. The wide areas are of slight concern to Rafa Benitez.
18. Bayer Leverkusen
9 of 26
Last Week: 18
Differential: -
Bayer Leverkusen are frozen in 18th place during their winter break.
17. Sevilla
10 of 26
Last Week: 19
Differential: +2
Sevilla took advantage of Malaga and Villarreal playing each other to beat Almeria and move into fourth place in the Liga table.
Like in most Los Rojiblancos victories, they were tough, ground out and reactive. Vicente Iborra and Coke scored the goals to seal a gritty three points.
16. Manchester United
11 of 26
Last Week: 14
Differential: -2
Manchester United are now winless in three and falling in our rankings. Sustaining their fourth Premier League loss of the season, this one to Ronald Koeman's Southampton, meant their opponents leapfrogged them in the table.
Zero shots on target from the home side, per WhoScored.com, will be of huge concern to Louis van Gaal, who continues to crowbar his expensive signings into a formation that isn't working.
15. Marseille
12 of 26
Last Week: 13
Differential: -2
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"It has not been the best of starts to 2015 for Marseille and Marcelo Bielsa. Not only were the southerners dumped out of the Coupe de France by fourth-tier Grenoble Foot 38, they then lost 2-1 away at Montpellier HSC in their first Ligue 1 game of the calendar year.
"Despite their brilliant home form, OM are poor on the road and have not won away from home since early October. If Bielsa and his players want to stand any realistic chance of winning the title, then they must improve their performances away from the comfort of Stade Velodrome."
14. Paris Saint-Germain
13 of 26
Last Week: 12
Differential: -2
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"This is arguably the weakest we have seen Paris Saint-Germain in the Qatar Sports Investments era. Without a win in three Ligue 1 matches and on the receiving end of a 4-2 thumping from struggling SC Bastia in Ligue 1 last Saturday, a game in which they were leading 2-0, coach Laurent Blanc is in grave danger right now.
"PSG are four points off the pace in Le Championnat and passed up a golden opportunity to hit top spot, at least temporarily, after Marseille's loss at Montpellier. Les Parisiens cannot rely on those sorts of opportunities being presented to them too often between now and the end of the season, so must address this alarming slide."
13. Lyon
14 of 26
Last Week: 16
Differential: +3
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Olympique Lyonnais are by far the most in-form team in French football at present. With six wins from their last seven games in all competitions since a 3-0 humbling at the hands of fierce rivals Saint-Etienne, Hubert Fournier's men have turned on the style.
"Right now, it is an absolute pleasure to watch them in every game they play. Alexandre Lacazette has been central to this impressive run of form and added his 18th and 19th goals of the Ligue 1 season in the 3-0 win over Toulouse last Sunday.
"The result lifted Les Gones one point clear of Olympique Marseille at the top of the table. If they can continue this fine form, they will quickly become title favourites."
12. Arsenal
15 of 26
Last Week: 15
Differential: +3
Arsenal produced a statement 3-0 win this weekend, beating a team they nearly always struggle against—Stoke City—with consummate ease.
That answered a lot of questions surrounding the team, and it's a positive step for Arsene Wenger. In particular, players not named Alexis Sanchez stepping up and dazzling will have been pleasing.
With both French titans slipping up, Arsenal leap upward.
11. FC Porto
16 of 26
Last Week: 11
Differential: -
FC Porto's fourth win in a row on Saturday allowed them to keep pace with Benfica in the Liga Sagres. Jackson Martinez, Oliver Torres and Evandro all netted.
At the moment, Julen Lopetegui's men are simply winning and waiting for the Eagles to slip up. It could be a long one—the Lisbon club look imperious.
10. Wolfsburg
17 of 26
Last Week: 10
Differential: -
Wolfsburg are frozen in 10th place during their winter break. Rest in peace, Junior Malanda.
9. Benfica
18 of 26
Last Week: 9
Differential: -
If you thought Arsenal's victory over Stoke City was of the statement variety, Benfica's 3-0 drubbing of Vitoria Guimaraes is next level.
There is absolutely no room for error at the top as the Eagles lead FC Porto by six, and in beating out Vitoria Guimaraes, they've essentially dumped out one of the few other "contenders" at the summit.
8. Roma
19 of 26
Last Week: 8
Differential: -
The selfie that nearly broke Twitter.
After netting an epic equaliser in the Rome derby, drawing the score level at 2-2, Francesco Totti took a selfie in front of the partisan fans. For some, it was in keeping with the magical touch he's long provided; for others, it was distasteful and wrong.
The draw allowed Juventus to pull a little clearer and undid the feisty win in Udinese midweek.
7. Manchester City
20 of 26
Last Week: 5
Differential: -2
Manchester City continue to string results together, but they're not always the right ones. The lack of striking options due to an injury crisis is really weighing on the team.
Stevan Jovetic gave it a go in the 1-1 draw vs. Everton but withdrew early; it's unfair to rely on James Milner and David Silva as goalscoring outlets every week.
6. Juventus
21 of 26
Last Week: 7
Differential: +1
Juventus ended a tough, examining week three points ahead of title rivals Roma. The fixtures—Roberto Mancini's better Internazionale at home, then Napoli away—represented a gruelling way to welcome football in 2015.
The victory at the Stadio San Paolo saw Paul Pogba dazzle and the diamond system thrive once again. The Bianconeri are beginning to look ominous.
5. Chelsea
22 of 26
Last Week: 6
Differential: +1
Chelsea were dominated in the first half by Newcastle United and were lucky to reach the break with the scores level. Remy Cabella went full Montpellier.
But the Blues, showing their champion-like qualities, recovered in the second half and ended the contest via Oscar and Diego Costa goals. Professional.
4. Real Madrid
23 of 26
Last Week: 1
Differential: -3
Real Madrid concede top spot after a tough week. Two consecutive losses, to Valencia and then to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey, heavily overshadow the easy 3-0 win over Espanyol this weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or and made the FIFPro World XI alongside colleagues Toni Kroos and Sergio Ramos, but individual achievements can't save Los Blancos from slipping.
3. Atletico Madrid
24 of 26
Last Week: 3
Differential: -
Most will have expected Atletico Madrid to turn Barcelona over this weekend—particularly off the back of their Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid—but they fluffed their lines, big time, at the Camp Nou.
The 3-1 loss saw Los Colchoneros fall behind and lose the plot; they became more intent on fighting than playing, and Jose Maria Gimenez came firmly back down to Earth against a fearsome front three.
They tread water after one big win and one big loss.
2. Bayern Munich
25 of 26
Last Week: 2
Differential: -
Bayern Munich are frozen in second place during their winter break.
1. Barcelona
26 of 26
Last Week: 5
Differential: +4
The top order of this ranking has never seen such a seismic shake-up, but the recent run of results has scarcely been believable.
With Bayern Munich frozen at No. 2, Manchester City being held, Real Madrid losing to Atletico Madrid and Atleti then losing to Barcelona, we've moved La Blaugrana top. Luis Enrique might be under pressure, but by our count, Barca look superb.
Scoring three against Los Colchoneros? Very few manage that...
