Power Ranking the Top 25 European Clubs Week of September 26-29
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.
With the second set of UEFA Champions League games on the horizon, we assess Europe's finest ahead of the fixtures, setting out where the best stand.
Disagree with our order? Join the conversation in the comments below!
Honourable Mentions
1 of 26
All three of these sides have dropped out due to a loss of form:
Everton
Athletic Bilbao
PSV Eindhoven
25. Sevilla
2 of 26
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Despite losing this week, Sevilla enter the rankings due to a) their excellent form, which should have been recognised previously before the loss and b) Athletic Club's startling fall in form.
Sevilla lost Ivan Rakitic but have barely skipped a beat with a new-look side playing the same, effective counter-attack football.
24. Bordeaux
3 of 26
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
As ever, we go to Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson with the Bordeaux update:
"After the minor setback of losing to EA Guingamp at the start of September, Willy Sagnol's Girondins de Bordeaux side are back in form.
"A win over Evian TG was followed up with a good away draw against Saint-Etienne and then a dramatic late 2-1 home win over Stade Rennais last weekend. Sagnol's impressive start to life with Les Girondins continues and his team are only second to Bielsa's Marseille at present.
"Bordeaux are three points better off than ailing PSG, two points behind OM, but the second-highest scoring team in the league with 15."
*Quotes obtained first-hand.
23. Ajax
4 of 26
Last Week: New!
Differential: New!
Ajax suffered an early blip but have recovered to win three league games on the trot. Coupled with PSV Eindhoven dropping points this week, it allows the Dutch passmasters to move level atop the Eredivisie with Phillip Cocu's side.
Their 5-2 beatdown of NAC Breda was aided by some absolutely horrendous goalkeeping by Jelle ten Rouwelaar, but Frank de Boer will be delighted to see Kolbeinn Sigthorsson get off the mark for the season.
22. Valencia
5 of 26
Last Week: 24
Differential: +2
Valencia's impressive winning streak stopped at four, with Real Sociedad and Sergio Canales netting to hold Los Che to a 1-1 draw.
They're still second, ahead of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the Liga table, and Paco Alcacer is absolutely on fire up front.
21. Marseille
6 of 26
Last Week: 25
Differential: +4
As ever, we go to Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson with the Marseille update:
"Marcelo Bielsa can do no wrong at present, or so it seems.
"Marseille won a sixth consecutive Ligue 1 match on Sunday, 2-1 against AS Saint-Etienne, to keep their place at the top of le Championnat. In those six games, Bielsa's men have scored 18 goals and conceded just two.
"Some of the football les Phoceens are playing right now is just mouth-watering, and the new slimline Andre-Pierre Gignac looks insatiable in front of goal with eight in as many games this term.
"The big question is how long 'El Loco' and his players can keep this form up."
*Quotes obtained first-hand.
20. Napoli
7 of 26
Last Week: 23
Differential: +3
Napoli's start to the season has been abysmal, but they managed to overcome Sassuolo away from home this weekend and began to right the ship.
Already eight points off Roma and Juventus atop Serie A, Gonzalo Higuain is going to need to score a lot of goals to make them relevant to the title race again.
19. Milan
8 of 26
Last Week: 14
Differential: -5
Pippo Inzaghi started off so well this season, but it's already starting to go a little pear-shaped, and we're only five games in.
Jeremy Menez as a false-nine was perfect, but since Fernando Torres has come in, the team has shifted and is not jelling at all.
A disappointing draw with Cesena this weekend essentially ends their bright start.
18. Bayer Leverkusen
9 of 26
Last Week: 19
Differential: +1
In the end, Bayer Leverkusen did well to escape with a 0-0 draw at Freiburg due to Emir Spahic's ridiculous red card after 28 minutes.
In just shy of half an hour, he managed to accrue two yellows for horrific challenges, and it left Roger Schmidt's pressing game in tatters.
17. Lille
10 of 26
Last Week: 18
Differential: +1
As ever, we go to Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson with the Lille update:
"Third, one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and four points behind leaders Marseille, Lille OSC have endured a mixed month of September.
"Rene Girard's men remain defensively resolute, having only conceded once in four league matches, but they also failed to score twice in that time and lost one while drawing the other. Les Dogues have been hit by a spate of midfield injuries lately, but Girard will be grateful that his defence remains relatively untouched.
"Scoring goals, as always, is the problem, and LOSC are the only side in the current top five that have yet to break into double figures this season. However, a defence that has only shipped two measly goals is something that no other team in the French top flight can boast."
*Quotes obtained first-hand.
16. Borussia Dortmund
11 of 26
Last Week: 11
Differential: -5
Ouch.
It hurts to lose to your closest rivals, and Schalke seem to have found a knack of beating Borussia Dortmund in the derby—even when they're woefully out of form.
A 2-2 draw midweek with Stuttgart hurts BVB even further here, and with just seven points from six league games, they really are clinging on in our rankings.
They're just so hit and miss at the moment.
15. FC Porto
12 of 26
Last Week: 17
Differential: +2
FC Porto drew their third match in a row this weekend, although grabbing a point away to Sporting—particularly in their current incarnation—is never a bad thing.
That said, the run of draws leaves them four points off Benfica at this early stage. Ruben Neves' delightful form can only keep the baying fans happy for so long.
14. Tottenham Hotspur
13 of 26
Last Week: 16
Differential: +2
Tottenham Hotspur will be happy with their point in the north London derby, as recent history hasn't been too kind to them in this fixture.
Erik Lamela played well, and Ryan Mason did superbly in central midfield on his league debut, but Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen were constantly berated by manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Still work to do.
13. Benfica
14 of 26
Last Week: 15
Differential: +2
Benfica are top of Primeira Liga by four points and remain undefeated through six games.
They came through a real examination this weekend away to lowly Estoril, with 20-year-old Anderson Talisca impressing yet again by grabbing a brace.
Jorge Jesus is doing a marvellous job.
12. Liverpool
15 of 26
Last Week: 13
Differential: +1
Liverpool underperformed once again and must buck up their ideas soon despite only missing out on three points in the Merseyside derby due to a Phil Jagielka golazo.
Raheem Sterling wide doesn't appeal, and no Daniel Sturridge has been a big problem following Mario Balotelli's slow adaption to life in red.
11. Zenit St. Petersburg
16 of 26
Last Week: 10
Differential: -1
Zenit St. Petersburg have finally dropped points in the Russian Premier League. Andre Villas-Boas' winning run ends at eight, as Spartak Moscow held them to a goalless draw at the weekend.
That result sees Gazprom's finest drop in our rankings, as it appears they are indeed fallible. It's very difficult to assess just how good this team are, as their win over Benfica was somewhat "false" due to an early red card.
10. Arsenal
17 of 26
Last Week: 12
Differential: +2
A home draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby will disappoint Arsene Wenger, and the injuries sustained during the game have crippled his midfield in the short term.
Ahead of a potentially grueling tie with Galatasaray, Arsenal are without Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and possibly Jack Wilshere. Abou Diaby can't play, and Mathieu Flamini is in woeful form.
9. Paris Saint-Germain
18 of 26
Last Week: 9
Differential: -
As ever, we go to Ligue 1 expert Jonathan Johnson with the Paris Saint-Germain update:
"It was another mixed week for French champions Paris Saint-Germain. It looked as if they had turned the corner with the 2-0 win at Stade Malherbe Caen on Wednesday, but that progress was undone by a typically flat pre-UEFA Champions League performance in the 1-1 draw in Toulouse.
"All is clearly not well at PSG, with many players struggling physically and signs during the Toulouse draw that tensions are growing at the capital club. Les Parisiens will also not be helped by the fact that star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic's heel problem appears to be worse than first thought.
"With key games against Barcelona and AS Monaco coming up this week, it will be an important next few days for under-fire coach Laurent Blanc."
*Quotes obtained first-hand.
8. Atletico Madrid
19 of 26
Last Week: 8
Differential: -
Atletico Madrid remain unbeaten and look as strong as ever, having recently smashed Sevilla 4-0 despite meeting them in top form.
Koke, Gabi and the central defenders are ensuring the continuity of Diego Simeone's methods, and despite a sea of change in terms of personnel, this is still a slick, well-oiled machine.
7. Roma
20 of 26
Last Week: 5
Differential: -2
Five wins from five despite losing Mehdi Benatia this summer has Roma fans optimistic this is their year. Last year, the Giallorossi started fast and tailed off in the wake of Juventus, but with a big squad packed with stars, Rudi Garcia's men are a legitimate force in both Serie A and the UEFA Champions League.
6. Juventus
21 of 26
Last Week: 3
Differential: -3
Juventus enjoyed a magnificent afternoon in Atalanta this weekend, winning 3-0, seeing Gianluigi Buffon save a penalty and welcoming Alvaro Morata back from injury with a goal.
The Bianconeri are yet to concede through five games and have won every fixture; Roma will provide a sterner test this season, and it's shaping up to be a cracker.
5. Real Madrid
22 of 26
Last Week: 7
Differential: +2
Real Madrid have now scored 15 goals in three games, and it appears Carlo Ancelotti's "new-look" Blancos side is beginning to take ominous shape.
They have a deep squad packed with talent, and when Cristiano Ronaldo is fit and firing, there are few who can stop them. Four points off the pace means very little for a team like Real Madrid at this stage; Barcelona have a few mistakes to make yet.
4. Manchester City
23 of 26
Last Week: 6
Differential: +2
Manchester City overcame Eliaquim Mangala's best efforts to the contrary in beating Hull City 4-2 this weekend.
Sergio Aguero netted again, Edin Dzeko finally notched and Fernando is back in training. Things are looking pretty rosy for the Citizens all of a sudden!
3. Bayern Munich
24 of 26
Last Week: 4
Differential: +1
Pep Guardiola continues to chop and change his formation at will and succeed; be it 3-5-2, 3-4-3, 4-3-3 or even 4-2-3-1, Bayern Munich win games and keep clean sheets.
Paderborn and Koln don't exactly provide the sternest of tests, but the heavy rotation of the squad and plethora of options available make these games a walk in the park. Everyone is fresh.
2. Chelsea
25 of 26
Last Week: 2
Differential: -
Chelsea bounced back from two consecutive draws with an easy win over Aston Villa this weekend.
That home Schalke tie will haunt Jose Mourinho as, on paper, it was an easy victory. Their UEFA Champions League group isn't challenging, so it shouldn't have a long-term effect, but the result brought up ugly memories of dropping easy points last season.
1. Barcelona
26 of 26
Last Week: 1
Differential: -
Barcelona recovered from last week's draw with Malaga by smashing poor, harmless Granada 6-0.
Lionel Messi has five goals and six assists in six starts; Neymar has six goals in three. Luis Enrique's troops look absolutely irresistable in front of goal, and they're still yet to concede!
If you read and appreciate my work, i'd be grateful if you voted for me in the best established football writer in the 2014 Football Blogging Awards here: http://bit.ly/1qTsc5S
