Ranking the Top 25 European Clubs After Weekend of May 23-24
Welcome to the latest edition of our European club rankings (previous edition here), where we rank the top teams on the continent based on seasonal form and squad strength.
We've crowned champions in every major European league, and most of the minor ones are settled too. There were some final-day scrambles for places, and there's still plenty to play for in terms of UEFA Champions League places, given that Serie A isn't quite done yet.
Remember: Form over the past six weeks or so is taken into account, with the most recent result being the biggest factor in changes of placement. It's also cumulative, so teams such as Lyon and Arsenal have been floating in reasonably stable positions due to up-and-down form.
Disagree with our order? Join the conversation in the comments section below!
Note: Rankings consider results completed prior to May 26.
25. Napoli
1 of 25
Last Week: 23
Differential: -2
Napoli are now on the brink. They face Lazio on the final day of the Serie A season and have to win to secure Champions League football. It also looks incredibly likely that Rafa Benitez is off to Real Madrid this summer to replace Carlo Ancelotti, as BBC Sport report they're inching closer to the deal.
They blew it this weekend, losing to a reserve Juventus XI and giving themselves a tough task on the final day.
24. Roma
2 of 25
Last Week: Unranked
Differential: New!
Roma appear to have pulled themselves together, and Monday night's derby win over Lazio has secured them second place in the Serie A table.
They've won four out of six matches, and Rudi Garcia has rediscovered the form that had the Giallorossi competing with Juventus earlier on in the season. Automatic qualification for the Champions League has already been secured.
Replaced: Zenit St. Petersburg
23. Marseille
3 of 25
Last Week: 24
Differential: +1
Over to B/R's Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Marcelo Bielsa's Marseille beat SC Bastia 3-0 as they hoped for a Monaco draw or defeat to send them into third and Champions League qualification, but it was ultimately in vain. Les Phoceens left it too late in the season to start showing the sort of form they needed to show in the wake of their home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain back in April, and as a result, they finish two points behind Les Monegasques.
"It looks like it is the end of the road for Bielsa at Stade Velodrome, so the big question is who OM will pick to replace the charismatic Argentinian."
22. Sporting CP
4 of 25
Last Week: 22
Differential: None
Sporting overcame Rio Ave in their final league match of the season, and it was perhaps fitting that Nani—so often an X-factor for them this year—scored the only goal of the game.
Talk will now turn to how many—if any—of Sporting's starlets will stick around. Andre Carrillo, William Carvalho, Cedric Soares, Carlos Mane and more are expected to receive attention.
21. Saint-Etienne
5 of 25
Last Week: 21
Differential: None
Over to B/R's Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Despite a 2-1 home win over EA Guingamp, AS Saint-Etienne were not able to pinch an unlikely third-place finish and UEFA Champions League qualification on the final day. Christophe Galtier's men needed both Olympique de Marseille and AS Monaco to drop points in order to overtake them, and all three teams won, meaning that they stayed where they were at the start of the day.
"For Les Verts, there will be mixed feelings. For the second consecutive season, the team have finished on 69 points. However, those 69 points were not enough to keep last season's fourth place and ASSE finish this term in fifth, despite losing fewer games.
"Galtier looks likely to continue in his role as coach, which will be a huge boost at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, but Saint-Etienne have a big summer ahead of them with one or two key players expected to leave."
20. Monaco
6 of 25
Last Week: 20
Differential: None
Over to B/R's Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"After some final-day drama, Monaco secured the third and final Champions League qualification berth, thanks to a 1-0 win away at FC Lorient. Leonardo Jardim's men were under pressure to get the three points needed, and although Anthony Martial's second-half penalty miss could have cost them dearly, in the end, the principality outfit held on to Yannick Ferreira Carrasco's solitary strike.
"Finishing third and returning to European football's top table is no less than Monaco and Jardim deserve. It has been an excellent season, considering the poor start they made in Ligue 1, so everyone at Stade Louis II can feel satisfied with a job well done."
19. Lyon
7 of 25
Last Week: 19
Differential: None
Over to B/R's Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"After Lyon's excellent season threatened to be undermined by a wide final gap between themselves and PSG, Hubert Fournier's men did just enough away at Stade Rennais to win 1-0 and keep the ultimate margin at eight points.
"Marseille finished 12 points behind PSG in the first of the capital club's three consecutive Ligue 1 title wins, while Monaco closed that gap to nine last term. This time around, Lyon have gone one better and finished eight points behind Les Parisiens, and that reflects the fact that OL pushed Blanc's men closer than OM or Les Monegasques in recent years.
"Les Gones can be pleased with their season overall, and now, an intelligent assault on the transfer market is needed to boost the squad ahead of next season and a Champions League return."
18. Dynamo Kiev
8 of 25
Last Week: 18
Differential: None
Like Bayern Munich over in Germany, Dynamo Kiev are coasting toward the finish line with a 10-point lead at the top of the Ukrainian Premier League.
A 1-0 win away to Karpaty this weekend made it four wins in a row and five in their last six, with Artem Kravets—a man on fire in front of goal—grabbing the decisive strike.
17. Lazio
9 of 25
Last Week: 11
Differential: -6
Lazio managed the near-unforgivable on Monday night, losing the Rome derby 2-1 despite desperately needing something from the game. It's their second loss in the space of five days.
It was by no means a disastrous result in terms of the Serie A table—Napoli lost too, so they're still three clear of fourth place—but it's never good to lose to your archrivals, no matter the circumstances or stage of the season.
The Biancocelesti lost their way a little in a heated game, becoming distracted from the tie as a contest.
16. Bayer Leverkusen
10 of 25
Last Week: 13
Differential: -3
With fourth place in the Bundesliga secured and third mathematically out of reach, Bayer Leverkusen took their foot off the gas on the final day of the season.
The resulting 2-1 loss away to a strong Eintracht Frankfurt side saw Gonzalo Castro play his last game for the club—he's joining Borussia Dortmund this summer, per ITV—and Simon Rolfes play his final game in football from the bench. (He's retiring.)
We also saw Lars Bender in defence, Sebastian Boenisch wheeled out and Julian Brandt given a go. Can you say "alternate XI"?
15. FC Porto
11 of 25
Last Week: 17
Differential: +2
With the damage done the week before—FC Porto could not overhaul Benfica on the final weekend even if they'd scored 100 goals—the final day of the season was an exhibition for the Dragons.
It was Danilo's chance to say goodbye to the Estadio do Dragao after nothing but positive times at the club, and Vincent Aboubakar grabbed a goal off the bench, reinforcing his value should Jackson Martinez be poached.
Alberto Bueno is to join on a free transfer, per Inside Spanish Football. Another Porto masterstroke.
14. Benfica
12 of 25
Last Week: 16
Differential: +2
The Jonas-Lima strike partnership in Benfica saw out the season in fanciful style, grabbing a brace each to ensure they finished with 20 and 19 goals respectively, per WhoScored.com.
The Eagles beat Maritimo 4-1 in convincing fashion at the Estadio da Luz before lifting the Liga NOS trophy in front of their home crowd. A second consecutive league title is one to be celebrated wildly.
13. Wolfsburg
13 of 25
Last Week: 15
Differential: +2
An eventful match at the RheinEnergieStadion saw FC Koln bow out with a 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg, leaving Die Wolfe entrenched in second place—10 off Bayern Munich, but three ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach.
It's been a brilliant season for Dieter Hecking's men, despite tailing off a little at the end. They achieved Champions League football and ran a Pep Guardiola-powered Bayern Munich surprisingly close between January and March.
12. Bayern Munich
14 of 25
Last Week: 14
Differential: +2
Bayern Munich arrested a quizzical domestic slide and finished the season with a flourish, beating Mainz 2-0 at home before lifting the Bundesliga trophy.
Bastian Schweinsteiger scored in his 500th appearance for the club—a truly remarkable achievement in 2015—while the fans waved goodbye to Claudio Pizarro and Mitchell Weiser with both thought to have played their final game for the club.
11. Borussia Monchengladbach
15 of 25
Last Week: 10
Differential: -1
Borussia Monchengladbach lost their final match of the season, going down 3-1 to Augsburg despite playing at Borussia-Park.
Raffael had given them the lead, but their lack of motivation to win the game soon shone through, juxtaposed against Augsburg's lust for victory as three points would guarantee them fifth place.
Gladbach finish the season in third, three points off Wolfsburg, and they're guaranteed a spot in the Champions League group stages. Lucien Favre, take a bow.
10. Atletico Madrid
16 of 25
Last Week: 7
Differential: -3
Atletico Madrid ended the season flatlining, failing to win in their fourth consecutive league match. Granada are extremely beatable, despite the fact they were playing for their own survival, and Atletico's scoreless draw with them crowns a disappointing month for Diego Simeone.
They secured third in La Liga, staving off Valencia by a single point, and won't face any sort of summer crisis. They may lose one or two players, but not an entire XI's worth, and there'll be no panic in the business.
9. Manchester City
17 of 25
Last Week: 12
Differential: +3
Manchester City ended up signing off with six wins in a row in the Premier League—a startling achievement, given how poor they looked coming into March and April.
The final day of the season saw them beat Southampton 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium, and despite it being a rather even contest in midfield, David Silva, a cut above, found a way to pick the Saints lock.
Also, Frank Lampard played his last Premier League game ever and scored in it. Typical Frank.
8. Valencia
18 of 25
Last Week: 9
Differential: +1
Valencia's victory this weekend was bittersweet. The 3-2 scoreline, secured late via a Paco Alcacer goal, ensured UEFA Champions League football next season, but star goalkeeper Diego Alves tore his ACL during the game and will be out for at least six months.
Nuno Santo will be focusing on the positives, though, and although Los Che are now a cash-rich side with some expensive signings donning their colours, it still represents a remarkable achievement to breach the top four.
7. Sevilla
19 of 25
Last Week: 6
Differential: -1
Sevilla did all they could on the final day, beating Malaga 3-2 at La Rosaleda, thanks in part to an early red card to opposing defender Weligton. It's rare you see the Andalusian outfit concede two goals, let alone three.
Unfortunately for Unai Emery's men, Valencia scraped by with a victory at Almeria, and they had to settle for fifth as a result. Now, the focus will be on winning the UEFA Europa League final—the only route left for qualifying for the Champions League.
They drop one as a result of a Liga rival leapfrogging ahead.
6. Real Madrid
20 of 25
Last Week: 8
Differential: +2
The sole late fixture in La Liga on Saturday was Real Madrid vs. Getafe—a bout the the former won 7-3, seeing out the season in goalscoring style.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, Asier Illarramendi started and Jese seriously impressed from the right wing, staking an early claim for a bigger role next season. If Gareth Bale continues to underwhelm, they have a wildly talented player just waiting for more playing time.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has been dogged by sacking rumours and has revealed that he'll take a year off due to health concerns if he's dispensed with, per Goal.com.
5. Chelsea
21 of 25
Last Week: 5
Differential: None
Chelsea's bizarre final-day game eventually ended in a victory over Sunderland, with Eden Hazard putting in another sublime showing from the wing.
The match will be remembered more for the Blues' decision to carry Didier Drogba off the pitch after just under 30 minutes of play, though, attempting to give "The King" an appropriate send-off. He was not injured.
Jose Mourinho adds another title to his impressive collection, and this season was one of the most dominant showings of his career.
4. Arsenal
22 of 25
Last Week: 4
Differential: None
OK, so West Bromwich Albion have mentally checked out for the season, but this was still a truly remarkable performance from Arsenal.
Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere both scorched the Baggies—the former with a hat-trick and the second with a brilliant midfield display iced by a stunning half-volley—on the way to an emphatic Gunners win.
It was a hell of a way to warm up for an FA Cup final.
3. Paris Saint-Germain
23 of 25
Last Week: 3
Differential: None
Over to B/R's Jonathan Johnson for the Ligue 1 lowdown:
"Already Ligue 1 champions for the third consecutive time before they beat Stade de Reims 3-2 on Saturday, PSG have now set a new club-record winning streak in Le Championnat.
"Laurent Blanc's men have won their last nine straight league games, and all that is left for them to do now is dispose of AJ Auxerre in the Coupe de France final this weekend to complete the first-ever French domestic treble.
"Edinson Cavani is enjoying a rich vein of goalscoring form right now, with 12 goals in his last eight domestic games. If El Matador can keep that up at Stade de France, then he will depart for this summer's Copa America with plenty of confidence and his late-season form may well have secured his future in Paris as thoughts turn to the transfer window at Parc des Princes."
2. Juventus
24 of 25
Last Week: 2
Differential: None
Juventus' alternate XI dispensed with the challenge of Napoli this weekend in impressive fashion. The depth Massimiliano Allegri has to call upon is absolutely marvellous.
Stefano Sturaro staked his claim for a spot in the UEFA Champions League final XI with a scintillating goal, but all eyes were on Paul Pogba has he continued his return from a nasty hamstring injury.
The Bianconeri are 16 points clear of second-placed Roma with a game to go.
1. Barcelona
25 of 25
Last Week: 1
Differential: None
Barcelona's reserve XI threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Deportivo La Coruna. The result saved the latter from relegation on a wild final Liga day.
With Jordi Masip in goal and Thomas Vermaelen starting at centre-back, it quickly became clear Luis Enrique's mind was on the UEFA Champions League final two weeks ahead. Lionel Messi and Neymar stayed sharp and played injury-free games in what was likely the biggest plus-point of the afternoon.
Despite dropping points, Barcelona retain the top spot in the ranking. The lead they've built here is sizable, and Saturday was more about saying goodbye to Xavi than actually winning a game.
