Ranking the Top 25 European Clubs After Weekend of January 17-18
Welcome to the latest edition of our European club rankings (previous edition here). We rank the top teams on the continent based on seasonal form and squad strength.
Everyone's back in action bar the German Bundesliga, with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven finally joining us for the second half of the season. Several of the top 25 sides played each other, and there's a big mover in one English club that continues to defy expectations.
Disagree with our order? Join the conversation in the comments below!
Honourable Mentions
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Honourable Mentions
Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Saint-Etienne and Lazio have all been waiting in the wings for weeks. Liverpool and Tottenham won again to further their claim, Saint-Etienne drew 0-0, and Lazio lost to rivals Napoli.
With no slip-ups in the bottom tier of the top 25, they must wait a little longer.
25. Villarreal
2 of 26
Last Week: 25
Differential: -
Villarreal were rampant against Athletic Club this weekend, with Denis Cheryshev again torturing the flanks. The Russian star is truly budding out on loan away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
The reliable figure of Bruno sealed the victory with a late penalty, allowing The Yellow Submarine to keep pace with rivals Valencia and Sevilla in the league.
24. Valencia
3 of 26
Last Week: 24
Differential: -
How did Almeria keep it close against Valencia this weekend? By opting to score immediately after Los Che did, keeping the tally at 1-1, then 2-2 at half-time.
Nuno Santo's tactical tweak was simple: score the winner in the 88th minute via Alvaro Negredo, leaving Tomer Hemed and Co. no time to retaliate and score a third.
Valencia won 3-2. Great plan.
23. Monaco
4 of 26
Last Week: 23
Differential: -
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Since the end of November, AS Monaco have been unbeaten in all competitions. On top of that, they have not conceded a single goal in a 90-minute game since that 2-0 loss at Rennes nearly two months ago, and that impressive run spans 10 matches.
"The last time Leonardo Jardim's side even saw the ball hit the back of their own net was in the 106th minute of a Coupe de la Ligue round-of-16 clash with Olympique Lyonnais. Alexandre Lacazette equalised to make it 1-1 and sent the tie to penalties, which Monaco won 5-4.
"Such defensive solidity bodes well ahead of the second half of this season, particularly in the UEFA Champions League, with the principality outfit already rising steadily up the Ligue 1 table after last weekend's 1-0 win over FC Nantes."
22. Ajax
5 of 26
Last Week: 22
Differential: -
Welcome back, Eredivisie! It is now just the German Bundesliga on a winter break, creating havoc in our power rankings.
Arkadiusz Milik started ahead of Kolbeinn Sigthorsson as Ajax defeated Groningen 2-0 this weekend, perhaps signifying a changing in the tide up front. Unfortunately for De Godenzonen...
21. PSV Eindhoven
6 of 26
Last Week: 21
Differential: -
...PSV Eindhoven won too.
A 1-0 win away at Vitesse Arnhem is a massive result, although admittedly the hosts were without a key player and creator in Bertrand Traore.
Adam Maher had himself an impressive day, scoring, hitting the woodwork and clearing a shot off the line, per WhoScored.com.
20. Manchester United
7 of 26
Last Week: 16
Differential: -4
Louis van Gaal endured the wrath of the fans by once again playing a questionable formation, but he fixed it in the second half and left Loftus Road with another invaluable three-point haul.
It would now be a huge surprise to see Manchester United line up in a 3-5-2 again after the switch to the diamond worked so well, and if Angel Di Maria plays up front one more time, the supporters might just begin to implode with rage.
With huge, more impressive victories being sustained by the teams around them, United move down four despite bagging a full haul themselves.
19. Sevilla
8 of 26
Last Week: 17
Differential: -2
Sevilla showed Malaga what it's like to be a contender in La Liga's race for fourth place this weekend. Carlos Bacca and Denis Suarez's goals, resulting in a 2-0 win, opened up an eight-point gap between Los Rojiblancos in fourth and Los Boquerones in seventh.
There are those who don't like the way Sevilla play under Unai Emery—it's a little basic and reactive, sure—but boy has it proved effective, even without Ivan Rakitic.
They move down for one simple reason: Other teams' wins were bigger than their win. Harsh, but circumstantially true.
18. Bayer Leverkusen
9 of 26
Last Week: 18
Differential: -
Bayer Leverkusen remain frozen in their position and continue on their Bundesliga winter break.
However, they tweeted this on Tuesday, "#Leverkusen confirm rising star Tin Jedvaj signs long-term deal until 2019."
17. Napoli
10 of 26
Last Week: 19
Differential: +2
This is what you call a big win. Lazio have been seriously threatening Napoli's perceived token stranglehold on third place in Serie A, so for the Partenopei to pull out a 1-0 victory at the Olimpico, further separating the two, is seismic in its ramifications.
Sampdoria have now moved above Lazio, and Napoli retain third on goal difference. Roma are eight ahead in second—that's like an unassailable gap now—so beating the teams directly beneath them becomes a must in order to grab Champions League football.
16. Southampton
11 of 26
Last Week: 20
Differential: +4
Southampton extended what is now a mightily impressive unbeaten run by defeating Newcastle United 2-1 away from home. New loan signing Eljero Elia, brought in to cover Sadio Mane's Africa Cup of Nations absence, scored both goals.
Graziano Pelle hit the woodwork for the sixth time this season—he leads the Premier League in that particular unfortunate occurance, per WhoScored.com—and Jose Fonte played superbly in defence.
15. Marseille
12 of 26
Last Week: 15
Differential: -
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Marcelo Bielsa's Olympique de Marseille side ground out a 2-1 win over EA Guingamp last weekend but left it late to secure the points. It was a good result for Les Phoceens, but it masks the truth a little bit, and that is that Bielsa has run his players into the ground.
"With no new arrivals on the horizon, El Loco is expected to stick with what he has until the end of the season. If that is the case, then Marseille are likely to burn out before the end of the campaign. A bit of squad rotation, such as the inclusion of promising defender Doria, would not go amiss. However, Bielsa is too stubborn to rotate or incorporate the Brazilian, and that could prove to be OM's downfall."
14. Paris Saint-Germain
13 of 26
Last Week: 14
Differential: -
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Paris Saint-Germain are back to winning ways, picking up a first Ligue 1 success in four attempts with a 4-2 triumph over Evian Thonon Gaillard at Parc des Princes over the weekend. However, despite managing to score four times, Laurent Blanc's men still contrived to allow the relegation-threatened Savoyard side score twice.
"This victory has returned Les Parisiens to Le Championnat's top three, but their leaky back line remains a concern. Blanc's continued refusal to consider playing the solid and in-form Marquinhos over struggling Gregory van der Wiel of late has been particularly baffling. Girondins de Bordeaux in the Coupe de France and Saint-Etienne in the league mean this week will be a tough one for the French champions."
13. Lyon
14 of 26
Last Week: 13
Differential: -
As ever, we go direct to Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"It might not have been spectacular, but it was efficient and exactly what coach Hubert Fournier will have asked for. Lyon's 2-0 win away at RC Lens over the weekend stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points and put them a provisional seven points clear of PSG.
"Although both of those leads were eventually whittled down, Les Gones remain top of the pile and are good value for it. Alexandre Lacazette notched his 20th league goal in 21 appearances, continuing his stellar current form, while the defence kept another clean sheet.
"That is now six straight wins in Le Championnat, and this fantastic run does not look like it will be ending anytime soon."
12. Roma
15 of 26
Last Week: 8
Differential: -4
A 1-1 draw in Palermo meant Roma slipped to their fourth tie in six Serie A outings. Paulo Dybala's early goal was cancelled out, eventually, by Mattia Destro, but this goes down as a disappointing result.
The Giallorossi are slipping in the title race (five points off Juventus) and slipping in our ranking. The predictable, slow nature of Rudi Garcia's 4-3-3 is becoming a slight concern.
11. FC Porto
16 of 26
Last Week: 11
Differential: -
Another win but still six points off the Liga Sagres summit. It's frustrating stuff for Julen Lopetegui's men at the minute as they try, and fail, to catch Benfica.
Jackson Martinez scored and continued his strong form, and Oliver Torres netted his sixth league strike of the season, per Soccerway.com. Atletico Madrid, his parent club, will be delighted.
10. Wolfsburg
17 of 26
Last Week: 10
Differential: -
Wolfsburg remain frozen in their position and continue on their Bundesliga winter break.
9. Benfica
18 of 26
Last Week: 9
Differential: -
Benfica have won back-to-back 4-0 games, beating first Arouca in the Taca de Portugal and then Maritimo in the Liga Sagres. It's arguable they are playing some of their best football of the season despite Enzo Perez departing for Valencia.
The coming weeks will be harder given that Talisca received a late red card against Maritimo this weekend, but Lima and Eduardo Salvio are in strong form and can replace his impact.
8. Manchester City
19 of 26
Last Week: 7
Differential: -1
Very few Manchester City fans expected to be upset at home to Arsenal, but Manuel Pellegrini's men were found lacking in a 2-0 defeat on Sunday in front of the watching world.
Sergio Aguero was pocketed by Laurent Koscielny, Francis Coquelin nullified David Silva, and Jesus Navas was rendered expendable by none other than Nacho Monreal. A terrible day at the office, it must be said.
7. Arsenal
20 of 26
Last Week: 12
Differential: +5
For the first time in 894 days, Arsenal beat Manchester City in a Premier League game of football. Better yet, it was at the Etihad Stadium, one of the fiercest, toughest venues to visit in all of England.
Arsene Wenger is using Francis Coquelin in a more defensively apt setup and reaping the rewards. The fans are trying desperately to keep their feet on the ground, but obvious, progressive steps are being made at the club, and it's an exciting movement toward a more 2015-savvy system of play.
Santi Cazorla is shining, and the Gunners leap forward. It's a big move, but it's deserved based on recent form and due to Roma and Manchester City faltering.
6. Juventus
21 of 26
Last Week: 6
Differential: -
Juventus' 4-0 win over Hellas Verona was rather easy, with Carlos Tevez bagging a brace, Paul Pogba excelling, and the 4-4-2 diamond shape dominating once again.
If Massimiliano Allegri actually wins the Scudetto and improves this team in the process, it's going to be a little awkward—remember the widespread derision he was met with upon appointment?
5. Real Madrid
22 of 26
Last Week: 4
Differential: -1
Real Madrid put in one of their stronger performances over the last few months to beat Getafe 3-0 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez. Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace, but the real story was the play of James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema, who were both absolutely sublime in setting up goals.
But they move down again due to their early exit in the Copa del Rey and one even better performance from another club nearby.
4. Chelsea
23 of 26
Last Week: 5
Differential: +1
Chelsea routed Swansea City this weekend, and with Manchester City slipping up against Arsenal, a five-point gap as opened at the top of the Premier League table.
Diego Costa, Branislav Ivanovic, Filipe Luis, Oscar...the list of excellent performers is seemingly endless. If the Blues defeat the Citizens next week at Stamford Bridge, an eight-point chasm will seem unassailable to most.
They leap-frog impressive opposition due to the impressive nature of the victory.
3. Atletico Madrid
24 of 26
Last Week: 3
Differential: -
Atletico Madrid were subpar this weekend but still eked out a strong 2-0 victory at home to Granada. The Vicente Calderon bayed for a Fernando Torres goal once again, but the Spaniard came up short.
It was the first time Diego Simeone had started both Torres and Mario Mandzukic, and they fed off each other very well. There's some serious depth on the red corner of Madrid now.
Their two-legged victory over Real Madrid is still fresh in the memory, and it keeps them third.
2. Bayern Munich
25 of 26
Last Week: 2
Differential: -
Bayern remain frozen in their position and continue on their Bundesliga winter break.
1. Barcelona
26 of 26
Last Week: 1
Differential: -
A Lionel Messi hat-trick and a Sidnei own goal led Barcelona past Deportivo La Coruna this weekend, allowing Luis Enrique's men to retain top spot in our power rankings.
Interestingly, it's all begun to click for "Lucho" following his admittance that he is under pressure due to the up-and-down results and performances on show.
His XI for this game mirrored the one used to beat Atletico Madrid the weekend before; it's the first time he's picked the same side consecutively this season, and voila! Consistency turns in good showings.
