Power Ranking Every Team in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League So Far After Matchday 4
This year's Champions League is well and truly underway.
We're four matches in and now have a clear view of which teams are looking handy and which are looking disappointing.
Time to fire up the Power Rankings.
36-30: Ajax, Benfica, Copenhagen, Olympiacos, Kairat, Villarreal, Marseille
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36. Ajax
Fourth in a domestic division that they should win, and at the bottom of the UCL table with a -13 goal difference.
35. Benfica
Really struggling across the board this year. Wednesday's home loss to Leverkusen pretty much ends any hope of qualification.
34. Copenhagen
Hammered 4-0 on Tuesday by a Tottenham side that blows hot and cold. Yet to score a win.
33. Olympiacos
Winless in four European matches, with a trip to face Real Madrid up next.
32. Kairat
One point from four games is probably as good as people could hope for.
31. Villarreal
Yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Pafos compounds a winless start for a team that could be doing a lot better.
30. Marseille
Really disappointing after going so well in Ligue 1. The home loss to Atalanta puts them in a pickle with Newcastle and Liverpool still to come.
29-25: Pafos, Slavia Praha, Monaco, Bodø/Glimt, Juventus
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29. Pafos
It doesn't matter what else Pafos do this season in the Champions League: their first-ever UCL win came against Villarreal on Wednesday. It's a moment that will be immortalised in the club.
28. Slavia Praha
A tough run of fixtures has yielded 3-0 defeats to Inter and Arsenal. Really would have wanted to beat Bodo/Glimt at home, but drew 2-2. Managed a decent draw away at Atalanta.
27. Monaco
Tuesday's well-timed win over Bodo/Glimt came at the right moment. Five points from four games is a good return, and they've got a decent chance to progress with home games against Galatasaray and Juventus on the horizon.
26. Bodø/Glimt
Two draws and zero wins in four matches. Performing as expected.
25. Juventus
The Italian giants are proving resilient in difficult moments, as evidenced by the stunning 4-4 comeback against Dortmund. However, three draws and zero wins leave a lot of question marks for a team that is also lingering in sixth domestically.
24-20: Union Saint-Gilloise, Napoli, Eintracht Frankfurt, Athletic Club, Club Brugge
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24. Union Saint-Gilloise
Things have gotten more difficult since the opening day win away at PSV. Walloped 4-0 at home by Newcastle and Inter, with Atletico beating them 3-1 in Spain on Tuesday. A super difficult set of games.
23. Napoli
Impressive once again in Serie A, but struggling to hit full steam in Europe. The 6-2 loss to PSV is unacceptable, and one win in four is disappointing.
22. Eintracht Frankfurt
A really fun team to watch. However, 23rd in the Champions League table and eighth in the Bundesliga suggests a little more nous is needed.
21. Athletic Club
Struggling at this level and definitely better suited to the Europa League, so will be feeling the strain of the new format.
20. Club Brugge
One of those teams you need to watch to get the hype. Club Brugge is just a ton of excitement and goes for it in matches that many wouldn't. Wednesday's 3-3 with Barcelona should put them on your radar for entertainment value alone.
19-15: Atletico Madrid, Leverkusen, Atalanta, PSV, Sporting
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19. Atletico Madrid
Certainly a step down from their better years. We can expect Atletico to get to the knockouts before coming up against a force that will prove too much.
18. Leverkusen
Finally got their first three points in a tough match against Benfica. Proving hard to beat.
17. Atalanta
A topsy-turvy side. It's surprising to see Atalanta in 11th in Serie A, especially after they dug deep to beat Marseille away.
16. PSV
Working hard after a poor defeat against USG. Away draws with Leverkusen and Olympiacos, not to mention that 6-2 win over Napoli, show a team that shouldn't be taken too lightly.
15. Sporting CP
A really solid team. Thirteenth place and capable of pushing higher with Brugge up next. Those three points could be vital with Bayern and Paris Saint-Germain waiting afterwards.
14-10: Dortmund, Chelsea, Tottenham, Qarabag, Barcelona
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14. Dortmund
A familiar issue continues to surface for Dortmund. They concede too many goals. Four away at Juventus, four away at Man City. It's not the base on which a successful Champions League run is built, despite winning half their games.
13. Chelsea
So much rotation is making it hard to judge just how good Chelsea are. They'll cruise through to the knockouts, no problem. We may get an answer on their long-term prospects next time out in the competition, though, with Barcelona to come.
12. Tottenham
Should feel a lot better after destroying Copenhagen this week. Spurs can beat the best and lose to the worst on their day, but they're rolling adequately in Europe right now.
11. Qarabag
An unbelievable start for the Azerbaijani side. The 2-2 draw with Chelsea confirms it: Qarabag are a well-drilled, exciting team ready to battle for everything. Seven points from four games is a brilliant return.
10. Barcelona
Hamstrung by key injuries, Barca will see this league phase as a way to get through without taking too much damage. They need Raphinha back if they're to push on, despite still playing some lovely football in the Brazilian's absence. Have conceded the most goals of the top 11 and remain frail when defending the transition.
9-6: Galatasaray, Newcastle, Real Madrid, Liverpool
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9. Galatasaray
What a turnaround! Gala were hammered 5-1 by Frankfurt on the opening day. They've followed that up with wins over Liverpool, Bodo/Glimt, and Ajax. Victor Oshimhen is a superstar.
8. Newcastle
Typically difficult to beat at home. The Magpies are on a terrible away run in the Premier League, but have only faced USG away in Europe so far. Trips to Marseille and Leverkusen will be excellent litmus tests for Eddie Howe's team.
7. Real Madrid
Disappointing against Liverpool, where they didn't really get going or look like scoring against a team that has had its defensive issues. This is Real Madrid in Europe, though. That's the only hiccup so far, as they inevitably stroll through and find another level once the bigger fixtures arrive.
6. Liverpool
Heading in the right direction. Tuesday's victory over Real Madrid is the second match in a row where some subtle tactical tweaks have vastly improved the Reds' performance. Arne Slot is just settling after a few pressure-filled weeks.
5. Inter Milan
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Four matches, four wins. Kairat provided a little scare on Wednesday, but Inter got through with the 2-1 win and are ticking along nicely. That will do for now, but you do have to wonder if this team can make the step up and go one better than their two recent final losses.
The trouble for Inter might be when the step up in opposition happens. Wins and clean sheets against Ajax, Slavia Praha, and USG are all well and good. They've got Atletico, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Dortmund next. That's a dastardly run that will show us how good this team is.
4. Manchester City
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There's no doubt Manchester City are finding the consistency that could make them contenders for the European crown again.
Pep Guardiola has worked out a decent balance at a time when Ballon d'Or winner Rodri's form still isn't where it used to be. He also has the endless goalscoring might of Erling Haaland to call on. Haaland's return to the form of two years ago is most welcome after last year's disaster season.
Man City have quietly only lost one game in their last 12 across all comps, and Wednesday's 4-1 overpowering of Dortmund–a team that would give many bigger boys trouble–suggests the juggernaut is rolling again.
3. PSG
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Tuesday's defeat to Bayern Munich shouldn't mean too much for PSG. The champs are currently sitting in fifth and flying in France.
Luis Enrique will hope their route through the knockouts doesn't chuck up a monster tie like it did last season, although beating Liverpool was the start of their rise in front of the world ahead of their maiden triumph.
PSG will need key players such as Ousmane Dembele and Joao Neves to completely overcome their injury issues if they're to retain the crown.
2. Arsenal
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Arsenal supporters will hate me for saying this, but…it feels like their time is coming.
Not conceding across October is phenomenal, as is not conceding across four Champions League matches so far. Mikel Arteta's side is just casually making it through games without much fuss. How many teams beat Atletico 4-0 to little fanfare?
The scariest thing is this: Arsenal haven't played mind-blowingly well in many of their matches. There's still room to hit top gear and to score more goals as Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka find their best form.
1. Bayern Munich
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The fact Arsenal aren't number one says everything you need to know about Bayern Munich so far this season.
Sixteen wins from sixteen is obviously perfect. However, Tuesday's 2-1 victory away at defending champions PSG is one of those results that should make the entire continent sit up and take notice.
To leave that match with three points after spending 45 minutes with 10 men is truly excellent stuff from Vincent Kompany and his men, who are starting to answer the main criticism of last year: being too easy to breach.
Bayern are more aggressive and better balanced than they've been in years. They also possess arguably the best striker in the world, Harry Kane, whose leadership and game-changing ability have led to 17 goals in 12 starts across the Bundesliga and Europe this season.
When we talk about Arsenal's immaculate defence, attention soon turns to who could give them a real test. We'll find out on Nov. 26 when the two best teams in the Champions League meet in North London.
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