Power Ranking the Top 25 European Clubs Week of September 12-15
Welcome to the latest edition of our European club power rankings, where we order the top teams on the continent based on early season form and squad strength.
After an untimely international break, ruining the start to another epic European season, we're back to domestic football. Every league is in full swing and the form of clubs is really starting to take shape.
This edition is based on pre-Champions League Gameweek 1, taking into account the matches this weekend and before.
Honourable Mentions
1 of 26
Manchester United—Thrashing Queens Park Rangers is a good start, but nothing more.
Villarreal—Still struggling to find their proper gear.
Ajax—Finally back on winning terms, but we're not plumping for them yet.
Schalke—Lost in comprehensive fashion to Borussia Monchengladbach this weekend.
25. Marseille
2 of 26
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
As ever, we go to our Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson for the Marseille lowdown:
"Marcelo Bielsa finally appears to be getting it together at Marseille. After a slow start to the Ligue 1 season, les Phoceens have managed to string together three consecutive wins.
"The latest, a 3-0 win over Evian Thonon Gaillard, lifts them up to second. Having done so much talking off the pitch lately (El Loco's scathing attack on the OM hierarchy regarding broken promises over summer transfer dealings), it is good to see him doing the talking on the pitch too.
"If Bielsa continues to get Marseille firing like this, the club will not dare cross him again the next time he wants something."
24. Bordeaux
3 of 26
Last Week: 21
Differential: -3
As ever, we go to our Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson for the Lille lowdown:
"Willy Sagnol's unbeaten run as Bordeaux coach came to end away at EA Guingamp on Sunday, but les Girondins are still up in third for now. The former French international has done remarkably well with his side so far, but defeat to the Bretons has provided a much-needed reality check."
"Bordeaux were not going to win the title this season, but European qualification is well within their reach. Sagnol will not be letting his side get ahead of themselves after this result."
23. PSV Eindhoven
4 of 26
Last Week: 19
Differential: -4
PSV Eindhoven fell away to PEC Zwolle, surrendering their first points of the season and allowing the team from Overijssel to draw level on points with them at the summit.
Luuk de Jong converted a penalty early on but the home side roared back, scoring three and punishing Phillip Cocu's young side for not putting the game to bed.
22. Everton
5 of 26
Last Week: 25
Differential: +3
Everton snapped out of a disappointing start on Saturday, beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 thanks to their superb Belgian contingent.
Romelu Lukaku's long-range scorcher was ruined a little by the fact that he didn't celebrate; while we understand respect for former clubs, he only spent a year on loan there!
21. Athletic Bilbao
6 of 26
Last Week: 21
Differential: None
Athletic Bilbao were lucky not to get crushed by Barcelona this weekend, and the fact they escaped with a 2-0 scoreline remains a massive positive.
They're a fair way off la Blaugrana in terms of quality, but Iker Muniain is rising to the challenge of replacing midfield maestro Ander Herrera at least.
20. Lille
7 of 26
Last Week: 23
Differential: +3
As ever, we go to our Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson for the Lille lowdown:
"Lille are really picking up speed now thanks to their third win in four league games. Rene Girard's men have only conceded the one goal in their first five matches and that defensive solidity helped them to a 2-0 win over FC Nantes last weekend.
"Admittedly goals remain a problem for les Dogues, but Divock Origi and Marco Lopes were both excellent against les Canaris and suggest that they will be able to make and take plenty of chances between them this season."
19. Milan
8 of 26
Last Week: 24
Differential: +5
The weekend's most entertaining game, without a shadow of a doubt, was Milan's thrilling 5-4 victory over Parma on Sunday evening.
Jeremy Menez scored a back-heel golazo, nine goals were scored, two penalties were awarded, two red cards were dished out and Nigel de Jong scored on a solo run from his own half!
Two wins from two for the Rossoneri.
18. Benfica
9 of 26
Last Week: 18
Differential: None
That's better!
Benfica crushed Vitoria Setubal this weekend 5-0, with Anderson Talisca scoring an impressive hat-trick.
The win moves the Eagles level at the top of the table, and the XI Jorge Jesus is able to field is beginning to look a lot, lot better with every passing week.
17. FC Porto
10 of 26
Last Week: 16
Differential: -1
FC Porto dropped points for the first time this weekend, drawing 1-1 with in-form Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques.
This new-look side is sure to have its ups and downs as the season progresses, but the reliable figure of Jackson Martinez got himself on the scoresheet once again to continue his impressive streak.
16. Bayer Leverkusen
11 of 26
Last Week: 17
Differential: +1
Bayer Leverkusen played to a wildly entertaining 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen this weekend, with the standout goal being Tin Jedvaj's rocket from the edge of the box.
Hakan Calhanoglu was again influential in proceedings as Roger Schmidt's side created 26 chances on goal, per WhoScored.com, and despite dropping points they remain top of the Bundesliga table.
15. Napoli
12 of 26
Last Week: 13
Differential: -2
Rafa Benitez's Napoli failed to overcome the stern test of Chievo Verona this weekend, falling 1-0 at home and losing early ground on their title rivals.
Francesco Bardi had a monstrous game in goal for Chievo, stopping Gonzalo Higuain's penalty and making nine total saves, per WhoScored.com.
14. Tottenham Hotspur
13 of 26
Last Week: 14
Differential: None
Tottenham Hotspur fans have had a rough few weeks; they've been dealt several disappointments in terms of results and decisions from Mauricio Pochettino.
Younes Kaboul as the new club captain is an uninspiring choice, and the 2-2 draw away to Sunderland is a real blemish given how much dominance the Lilywhites enjoyed.
Early tests for Pochettino's reign.
13. Zenit St. Petersburg
14 of 26
Last Week: 15
Differential: +2
Finally, a test for Zenit St. Petersburg!
Dinamo Moscow took them right to the wire, forcing a last-gasp Igor Smolnikov to fire home the winner in a 3-2 thriller late on.
Zenit have been cruising in the Russian Premier League and this wake-up call could be useful ahead of the UEFA Champions League.
12. Liverpool
15 of 26
Last Week: 9
Differential: -3
Liverpool failed to beat Aston Villa for the third time running at Anfield this weekend, with Brendan Rodgers falling foul of Paul Lambert yet again.
Raheem Sterling was rested and brought on at the 60-minute mark in a gamble which backfired massively, and the missing Daniel Sturridge would surely have played a part too.
Mario Balotelli was rendered anonymous.
11. Borussia Dortmund
16 of 26
Last Week: 12
Differential: +1
Borussia Dortmund crowned Shinji Kagawa's long-awaited return with a victory over Freiburg—and a goal for the Japanese star himself.
After an early beating at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen, BVB are starting to find their groove. Injuries appear to be dictating exactly how high they climb, though, and it'll be a real challenge from here without Marco Reus.
10. Paris Saint-Germain
17 of 26
Last Week: 8
Differential: -2
As ever, we go to our Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson for the Paris Saint-Germain lowdown:
"French champions PSG stuttered once again away from home last weekend, this time held to a 1-1 draw by Stade Rennais.
"Although it's not the worst result at face-value against an improving Breton side coached by Philippe Montanier, it is the sixth point that les Parisiens have dropped away from home this season already.
"Stade de Reims and Evian have also taken points from their clashes with Laurent Blanc's side and questions are already being asked about the team's failure to experiment with new formations and styles of play since last season.
"PSG were visibly playing within themselves at Rennes—no surprise with their opening UEFA Champions League fixture coming upon Wednesday—but a failure to hit the ground running there will increase the pressure on Blanc after an average start to the season."
9. Arsenal
18 of 26
Last Week: 11
Differential: +2
Arsenal are tough to gauge, as despite playing well in patches so far this season, they're yet to find top gear and begin finishing teams off.
They should have beaten Manchester City this weekend if the opening 25 minutes were anything to go by, and in failing to do so, recorded their third straight draw.
Unbeaten, sure, but there's a lot more to come here.
8. Roma
19 of 26
Last Week: 10
Differential: +2
Roma made it two wins from two to start the Serie A season, keeping pace with Milan and Juventus early on.
A Luigi Sepe own goal on the stroke of half-time settled it, with the Giallorossi keeping a second straight clean sheet to ensure they held out for the win.
Meanwhile, Gervinho, who has been a revelation for the capital club, has signed a one-year extension to his deal, per Sky Sports.
7. Real Madrid
20 of 26
Last Week: 4
Differential: -3
A quick tally up of the scores this weekend shows:
- Xabi Alonso's Bayern Munich won 2-0 in comfortable fashion
- Angel Di Maria starred in Manchester United's crushing of Queens Park Rangers
- ...and an Alonso-less, Di Maria-less Real Madrid lost their second consecutive match in La Liga—this time to their arch-rivals Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone's men did what they always do, and without Di Maria—the key man to beating los Colchoneros in recent years—Carlo Ancelotti's men fell flat.
6. Juventus
21 of 26
Last Week: 6
Differential: None
Juventus secured another industrious victory as new signings found their home in Massimiliano Allegri's XI.
"In the training sessions I'm working a lot, I have never worked so much in life," Patrice Evra told reporters after making his debut against Udinese this weekend (h/t Sky Sports).
"The difference is that the game is less intense, but more tactical. You must be most concentrated and being attentive on to things, which comes from extra training."
5. Manchester City
22 of 26
Last Week: 5
Differential: None
Manchester City secured an impressive 2-2 draw this weekend at the Emirates Stadium, although after taking the lead, Manuel Pellegrini may feel as though his side should have won the game.
They struggled with Arsenal's intensity at times but eventually broke the deadlock through Sergio Aguero, and later forced Laurent Koscielny to head against his own post.
Jesus Navas was excellent.
4. Atletico Madrid
23 of 26
Last Week: 7
Differential: +3
Atletico Madrid's epic victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabeu this weekend reaffirms their stock as a top-five team in Europe.
With all the departures this summer there were concerns over how los Colchoneros would shape up, but with Diego Simeone their constant, they looked stubborn, organised and as tactically superior as ever.
3. Bayern Munich
24 of 26
Last Week: 2
Differential: None
Bayern Munich's efficient 2-0 victory over Stuttgart this weekend was marred by an injury to Holger Badstuber.
The central defender tore a thigh muscle and came off just before half-time, signalling a quick end to a long-awaited comeback following 20 months out with knee problems.
On the plus side, if there is one, Franck Ribery returned to action off the bench.
2. Barcelona
25 of 26
Last Week: 2
Differential: None
Barcelona's victory over Athletic Bilbao will enter the history books as a 2-0 scoreline, but in reality la Blaugrana could—and perhaps should—have scored in excess of six.
Luis Enrique is using his squad options superbly and getting through games at the moment, with a frequent trend being that he brings on Neymar late on to win the game.
Are Barca back?
1. Chelsea
26 of 26
Last Week: 1
Differential: None
Continuing at the top of our rankings for a second week running is Chelsea, who overcame a small glitch early on against Swansea City to record four straight Premier League victories.
Diego Costa's hat-trick had the Stamford Bridge crowd gushing over the Spaniard's natural ability as a finisher, and Cesc Fabregas continued to pull the strings.
