European Power Rankings: The Continent's 20 Best Football Clubs

With just a few fixtures left to strike off the calendar of most European divisions, the season is drawing to its close in as dramatic a fashion as ever, for the most part.

As this is a power ranking system, clubs are graded, but not exclusively, on their most recent outings, whether domestically or as part of European competition.

Last week, Germany fully asserted itself as the nation to watch in terms of football evolution right now. Is that a temporary spike in form, or will the Bundesliga remain ahead of the curve?

Read on to find out.

Honourable Mentions

Roma

Unbeaten in their last five Serie A outings, Aurelio Andreazzoli’s Roma are finding form exactly when it’s needed. The only defeat of their last 11 games came against Palermo in late March.

Now just three points below Fiorentina, the Wolves pulled a massive three points from the fourth-placed club. They beat the Viola 1-0 in their own territory to keep their hopes of a Europa League playoff-round finish alive.

Tottenham Hotspur

Once again settling for a spot in our honourable mentions, it’s not necessarily Tottenham’s record that keeps them from breaking the top 20. They've just shown a lack of conviction in the latter stages of the season.

Knocked out of the Europa League by FC Basel several weeks ago, Spurs returned to domestic action with an emphatic 3-1 win over Manchester City. However, they have struggled against teams still caught up in a relegation battle, drawing with Wigan Athletic and narrowly defeating Southampton.

Taking four points from those two matches, it's looking like more of a stretch that Spurs could finish in the top four. However, a win on Wednesday against Chelsea would pull them into a tie for third, with the Blues ahead on goal difference.

Shakhtar Donetsk

Despite becoming Ukrainian champions for the fourth consecutive year just last week, Shakhtar Donetsk are actually enduring their worst run of form all season. They've drawn their last three matches.

This time around, the Miners had to share the spoils with Illichivets. They will hope for more success when they meet Sevastopol in the semi-final of the Ukraine Cup.

Valencia

Were it not for a 4-2 loss at Real Sociedad last week, Valencia may have crept into the top 20 of the power rankings this week, but Ernesto Valverde’s men still remain one of Spain’s most in-form sides.

This weekend, Los Che saw out a comfortable 4-0 win over Osasuna, bringing their record to four wins, four draws and two losses in their last 10 games. Rather impressively, they've maintained an average of 2.3 goals scored per game over that time. 

20. Udinese

Movement: New Entry

Although they may lie sixth in Serie A, Udinese currently boast the third-best form in the division, behind only Napoli and, of course, Juventus.

Led by Antonio Di Natale’s continuing success in front of goal, I Zebrette have managed to net three goals in three of their last five matches, all of which they won.

However, it’s not just in attack where the White and Blacks are seeing good form. The second-best home defence in Serie A remains just that after conceding just four goals in their last 10 Serie A matches at Stadio Friuli.

Now just four points away from Fiorentina in fourth, Udinese cling to a hope of obtaining a priority place in the Europa League, rather than settling for a spot in the third round of qualification.

19. Galatasaray

Movement: New Entry

While six of their last seven games have come against opposition in the bottom half of the Super Lig, Galatasaray’s current string of results is nonetheless impressive. They haven't dropped a point since the first week of March.

Gala’s most recent result, a 4-2 triumph over Sivasspor, brought Fatih Terim’s side the last points they needed to tie up a record 19th Turkish league title.

Although their Champions League run may not have gone to plan this season, one can bet the Istanbul giants will be back in the next campaign, perhaps bigger and better if ongoing transfer speculation is anything to go by.

18. Bayer Leverkusen

Movement: Up One

Not quite up to the standards of the two sides currently above them in the Bundesliga standings, Bayer Leverkusen are playing a game of catch-up in German football right now. And they're doing a respectable job.

The Lions have been mightily impressive within their own parameters this season. They currently enjoy a six-match unbeaten streak, the last three of which have all been victories.

Although Nurnberg, Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim aren’t the most fearsome sides to take three points from at this stage of the season, the wins have seen Leverkusen through to their current third place in the German top flight. They're seven points in front of Schalke and sure to earn a place in next season’s Champions League group stage.

17. Manchester City

Movement: Down Four

Roberto Mancini will undoubtedly be pleased that his side have managed to earn the title of best defence in the Premier League this season, but to say that his attack has lacked bite compared to the 2011-12 campaign would be an understatement.

While eight goals in their last six matches isn’t terrible by normal standards, it really isn’t telling of the same strike force that lit up the English top flight last term. That was evident most recently in the club’s 0-0 stalemate at Swansea City this weekend.

Of course, it's understandable if they're feeling down after losing the title to Manchester United, but that’s really not an excuse for a club of Manchester City’s pedigree.

Fourth in the league in terms of goal difference, City now sit just four points ahead of Chelsea and will assuredly be concentrating on their FA Cup final date against Wigan Athletic more than anything.

16. Ajax

Movement: New Entry

Without a league loss to their name since January of this year, Ajax clinched their 32nd Eredivisie title this weekend after beating Willem II Tilburg 5-0 in Amsterdam. That stretched their lead at the summit of the division to four points, out of the reach of PSV Eindhoven.

Now 13 games without a loss, the Dutch giants will look to close another highly successful season with a bang at Groningen next weekend. Then they'll prepare for another term of Champions League football in 2013-14.

Frank de Boer has now won three consecutive Dutch crowns as manager of the Godenzonen. He can only hope to better his side’s performance in Europe, as long as they aren’t drawn against Real Madrid for a third consecutive term.

15. Zenit St. Petersburg

Movement: New Entry

Russia’s most in-form side right now, Zenit St. Petersburg have won eight, drawn one and lost one of their last 10 matches across all competitions.

As a result of their own hard work and a drop in form from CSKA Moscow, the Russian Premier League title is back within the club’s sights. Zenit now sit just three points adrift of their first-place rivals, and with a better goal difference at that.

The club's most recent result was a 4-0 win over a 10-man Alania side. It was a good recovery from the 2-2 draw they had at Kuban Krasnodar. 

What’s more, Luciano Spalletti’s side have other hopes for silverware in the pipeline and will meet Anzhi Makhachkala in the semi-final of the Russian Cup this week.

14. Arsenal

Movement: Up One

With just two matches left in their Premier League season, Arsenal run the risk of failing to qualify for the Champions League should they claim anything less than six points, at which point participation in the tournament still isn’t assured.

So it’s a good thing that Arsene Wenger's club are going through the strongest patch of form they’ve had all season, winning six and drawing two of their last eight games.

"

34 - Arsenal have picked up 34 Premier League points in 2013, only Man Utd (36) have more this year. Gallop.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 6, 2013"

However, the North Londoners have lacked in front of goal of late, scoring just three times in their last four outings, two of which were 1-0 victories.

Despite the good record of late, it’s important to note that only two of Arsenal’s aforementioned six league victories of late have come against opposition in the top half of England’s first tier. The draws came against Manchester United and Everton.

With Wigan and Newcastle United the final two opponents on the agenda, Wenger’s team haven’t been given the hardest run-in of any team. However, they'd do well to beef up their goal difference just in case it comes down to that on the final day of the campaign.

13. FC Porto

Movement: Up Two

Twenty-eight matches into their Primeira Liga season, Porto’s unbeaten season lingers on, as does the one-point gap currently separating them from league leaders, Benfica.

As such, the stage is set for a most epic encounter when the two titans meet in the penultimate match of Porto’s season this weekend. They’ll hope to turn the Portuguese title race on its head at the Estadio Dragao.

This past weekend, Vitor Pereira’s side shoved Nacional Madeira aside, winning 3-1 away from home. It was just the third goal they've conceded in their last eight matches.

12. Paris Saint-Germain

Movement: Down Four

After having four players sent off in the space of two games, Paris Saint-Germain appear adamant on finishing their Ligue 1 season off in messy fashion. This past weekend, they surrendered a 1-1 draw to mid-table Valenciennes at Parc des Princes.

Goals have been hard to come by for PSG lately, as Carlo Ancelotti's side have failed to score more than once in five of their last six matches. Despite that, they remain seven points clear of second-place Marseille but can still mathematically come in second should they not win against Lyon this coming Sunday (May 12).

That said, PSG remain unbeaten in their last eight league matches. They can win the French crown for the first time in 19 years should they choose to get back to winning ways at Stade de Gerland.

11. Real Sociedad

Movement: No Change

Not set to play until Monday evening, Real Sociedad haven’t seen any change in their rankings.

Taking a quick glance at the club’s season, however, Philippe Montanier can be overjoyed with the makeover he’s managed to give La Real. They’ve only lost seven La Liga matches, with just one in 2013, or even after November for that matter.

Currently on a 15-match unbeaten run, the Basque club have scored four goals in three of their last six games, conceding an average of just over a goal per game in that period. 

10. AC Milan

Movement: No Change

After going an extraordinary two games without a goal around the start of April, Mario Balotelli has once again found his groove and is leading the AC Milan charge again. He netted the winner in a 1-0 victory over Torino this weekend, his second in as many matches.

In 2013, the only two domestic losses AC Milan have suffered came against Juventus, first in the Coppa Italia in January and then in a 1-0 defeat in Turin several weeks ago.

With Fiorentina dropping points against Roma this weekend, third place is now there for Massimiliano Allegri’s taking as the Rossoneri lead their Viola rivals by four points.

As such, Champions League football would seem assured as long as Milan can maintain form for these final three league matches. Of those, only Roma would appear to pose any real threat.

9. Benfica

Movement: Up One

After a 1-0 loss suffered in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final fixture against Fenerbahce, Benfica won the home tie 3-1 earlier this week, booking their place opposite Chelsea in the tournament’s final as a result.

Jorge Jesus’ men will return to domestic action Monday evening. They'll hope to use their game in hand to beat Estoril and stretch the distance between them and second-place Porto back to four points.

After winning their last nine league fixtures, Benfica can make it an even 10 this week, just in time for their season-defining encounter with Porto. That match promises to have a major bearing on just who claims the nation’s bragging rights.

8. Manchester United

Movement: Down Three

With the Premier League title once again in their trophy cabinet and not much left to play for except pride, one can understand why Sir Alex Ferguson may have chosen to field a weakened side against Chelsea this weekend.

However, a loss is a loss. While the Red Devils may have threatened to score against Chelsea at times, it’s Juan Mata’s goal, Rafael’s sending-off and, unfortunately, David Luiz’s devilish smirk (via Telegraph) that will ultimately be what this match is remembered for.

"

Ferguson upset by Luiz 'play-acting': Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Chelsea's David Luiz pl... bbc.in/18LRXbI

— BBC Sport Football (@BBCFootball1) May 6, 2013"

United are now without a win in their last two games after previously drawing at Arsenal.

The loss to Chelsea showed that perhaps Ferguson’s squad isn’t as deep as he might like. Players such as Antonio Valencia, Anderson, Tom Cleverley and Alexander Buttner all failed to have the desired impact from their displays.

7. Barcelona

Movement: Down One

Bayern Munich are undoubtedly one of, if not the strongest team in world football right now, but that didn't make the 7-0 aggregate loss they handed to Barcelona any less embarrassing to watch.

In its purest sense, the two-legged battering almost showed the passing of the torch in European football, with Spain surrendering its superiority to Germany. That was further supported by Real Madrid’s loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League’s other semi-final.

Barcelona have now won just three of their last six fixtures across all competitions and, even less impressive, just four of their last 10.

That being said, Tito Vilanova’s side did manage to bounce back with a 4-2 win over Real Betis this weekend, although they relied almost completely on the individual talents of Lionel Messi to save them.

The Argentine came on with the score tied at 2-2 and netted two goals in the space of 11 minutes to seal the three points for his side. It showed once more just how much Barcelona need him firing on all cylinders for them to succeed.

6. Chelsea

Movement: Up Six

With a jam-packed schedule almost behind them and a Premier League Manager of the Month award in Rafa Benitez’s possession, Chelsea have done fantastically to come through the month of April as they have.

After winning both legs of their Europa League semi-final against FC Basel, the Blues now find themselves with another date to worry about. They’ll meet Benfica in the competition’s finale next week, sandwiched between two Premier League matches that could make or break their season.

Benitez’s side have are unbeaten in their last six matches and have won their last four on the bounce. The most recent victory came at Old Trafford when the West Londoners pulled off a rare victory against an admittedly weakened Manchester United side, but a Manchester United side nonetheless.

As a result, the reigning Champions League winners can perhaps be looked upon as England’s most in-form side, taking both domestic and European matches into account, that is.

5. Napoli

Movement: Up Two

With only two points surrendered in their last seven Serie A matches (a 1-1 draw against AC Milan), Napoli are currently in the kind of form only Juventus could similarly boast.

What Napoli have working in their favour, however, is that for a side playing in Italy’s top flight, a division usually criticised for having a defensive approach, they’ve managed to exercise their creative juices. They are just short of Roma as Serie A’s strongest attacking side.

"

Amazing tifo! Forza magico Napoli! Season almost over and holding on to 2nd place for dear life!youtu.be/iplE3JRu2TM

— Pasq (@imnowtweeting) May 6, 2013"

That said, Walter Mazzarri’s side still managed to move past Inter Milan in confident fashion this weekend. They beat the 2010 Champions League victors 3-1 in Naples, very much thanks to an Edinson Cavani hat-trick.

Napoli have now scored three goals in each of their last three matches and are currently scoring an average of just under three goals per game in their last seven games.

4. Juventus

Movement: No Change

Winning the Scudetto race in consecutive seasons for the first time in a decade, this weekend saw Antonio Conte win his second Serie A title with Juventus as manager.

As the above video shows, the Juve players thought it prudent to show their beloved boss just how much the league success really means to them—by dunking their half-naked boss in an ice bath.

It was a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Palermo that gave the Turin club the one point needed to wrap up their 29th Scudetto honour. It also extended Juventus’ league-winning streak to eight matches, the last four of which have ended with a clean sheet.

3. Real Madrid

Movement: No Change

While Barcelona may be top of La Liga’s standings, it’s Real Madrid that are currently the nation’s most in-form side with just four games left of the Spanish season.

After limping away from Signal Iduna Park on the wrong side of a 4-1 hammering, Real had far more success in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final clash against Borussia Dortmund. For a brief moment, they actually looked they might be the ones heading to Wembley.

However, a 2-0 comeback was all Jose Mourinho’s men could muster, and it was just one score shy of the three goals needed to really pull off the miracle.

Regardless, Los Merengues recorded a slightly less important 4-3 win over Real Valladolid over the weekend, their fifth straight La Liga win.

Real are also recording something remarkable in the scoring ranks, averaging more than three goals per game in those five victories.

2. Borussia Dortmund

Movement: No Change

One component of the German duo currently taking world football by storm, Borussia Dortmund remain the hipster’s choice despite losing 2-0 at Real Madrid last week, winning their semi-final 4-3 on aggregate.

However, the Black and Yellows have now gone two games without a win. They can probably take the title of underdog into their Champions League final meeting with Bayern Munich.

"

Borussia Dortmund have received more than HALF A MILLION ticket applications for the Champions League final. uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-…

— Eurosport.com EN (@EurosportCom_EN) May 6, 2013"

In a strangely coincidental warm-up for the European showcase, the two German giants met this weekend in a fiery Bundesliga fixture, despite the fact that both clubs fielded what might be described as “B teams.” The match ended with a 1-1 draw.

1. Bayern Munich

Movement: No Change (Six Consecutive Weeks at No. 1)

Beating Barcelona once is an achievement. Beating Barcelona both home and away in a two-legged Champions League fixture is incredible. Beating Barcelona by scoring seven goals in those two matches while also preventing them from scoring even once would have been unthinkable for any club this time last month.

But Bayern Munich checked off all three of the aforementioned boxes. The Bavarians finished off their European rivals 3-0 at the Camp Nou last week to book their Champions League final place opposite Borussia Dortmund.

As mentioned in the last slide, Bayern’s “reserves” managed to earn a point against their BVB counterparts over the weekend, meaning the Bundesliga champions remain unbeaten in the league since October 2012.

Having swatted aside the Serie A champions and now the very likely La Liga champions in each of their last four European fixtures, Bayern have shown that German football is currently at its strongest. And they are spearheading the movement on the rest of the continent.

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