UEFA Power Rankings: Counting Down The Top 25 Football Clubs In Europe

Next month sees the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League, two of the world's foremost international club football tournaments, recommence after a two-month hiatus.

Some clubs who will be involved in the latter stages of proceedings, having successfully negotiated the group stages, have enjoyed a month away from football. Other clubs - notably those playing in the English Premier League, have been playing twice a week in a traditionally hectic Christmas schedule.

So which league structure will be more beneficial to the chances of the big clubs in Europe this season to win the two most coveted trophies? And which teams have really set either competition or their respective domestic leagues alight this year with great performances or even just great form?

I rank the best 25 football teams in Europe this season based on these three factors and also their ability to compete against the very best teams.

Please comment on my rankings if you disagree with the chronology or the involvement or absence of any entries.

25: Sporting Lisbon

Country: Portugal

Domestic League:  3rd (28 points from 16 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group C - 12 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Liedson

24: Lille

Ian Walton/Getty Images

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 20: Gervinho of Ivory Coast in action during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group G match between Brazil and Ivory Coast at Soccer City Stadium on June 20, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Ian Walton/

Country: France

Domestic League: 1st (35 points from 19 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 2nd (Group C - 8 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Gervinho

23: Villarreal

David Ramos/Getty Images

BARCELONA, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 13: Cani of Villarreal CF controls the ball during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona won the match 3-1. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty I

Country: Spain

Domestic League: 3rd (39 points from 19 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group D - 12 points from 6 games

Best Player:  Giuseppe Rossi

22: Lazio

Country: Italy

Domestic League: 3rd (34 points from 19 games)

European Competition: N/A

Best Player: Mauro Zarate

21: Napoli

Country: Italy

Domestic League: 2nd (37 points from 20 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 2nd (Group K - 7 points from 6 games) 

Best Player: Edinson Cavani

20: PSV Eindhoven

Country: Holland

Domestic League: 1st (41 points from 19 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group I - 14 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Ola Toivonen 

19: Porto

Country: Portugal

Domestic League: 1st (41 points from 15 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group L - 16 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Hulk

18: Bayern Munich

Country: Germany

Domestic League: 5th (30 points from 18 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 1st (Group E - 15 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Arjen Robben

17: Bayer Leverkusen

Country: Germany

Domestic League: 3rd (33 points from 18 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group B - 12 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Michael Ballack

16: CSKA Moscow

Country: Russia

Domestic League: 2nd (62 points from 30 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group F, 16 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Alan Dzagoev

15: Borussia Dortmund

Country: Germany

Domestic League: 1st (46 points from 18 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 3rd (Group J - 9 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Neven Subotic

14: Inter Milan

Country: Italy

Domestic League: 4th (32 points from 18 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 2nd (Group A - 10 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Samuel Eto'o

13: Lyon

Country: France

Domestic League: 4th (34 points from 20 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 2nd (Group B - 10 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Yoann Gourcuff

12: Valencia

Country: Spain

Domestic League: 4th (34 points from 18 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 2nd (Group C - 11 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Juan Manuel Mata Garcia

11: Tottenham Hotspur

Country: England

Domestic League: 5th (36 points from 21 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 1st (Group A - 11 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Rafael Van der Vaart

10: FC Copenhagen

Country: Denmark

Domestic League: 1st (51 points from 19 games!)

European Competition: Champions League; 2nd (Group D - 10 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Christian Bolanos

9: AC Milan

Country: Italy

Domestic League: 1st (40 points from 19 games) 

European Competition: Champions League; 2nd (Group G - 8 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Alexandre Pato

8: Zenit St. Petersburg

Country: Russia

Domestic League: 1st (68 points from 30 games - Champions)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group G - 18 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Igor Denisov

7: Chelsea

Country: England

Domestic League: 4th (38 points from 22 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 1st (Group F - 15 points from 6 games)

Best Player: John Terry

6: Arsenal

Country: England

Domestic League: 3rd (43 points from 22 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 2nd (Group H - 12 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Cesc Fabregas

5: Shakthar Donetsk

Country: Ukraine

Domestic League: 1st (52 points from 19 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 1st (Group H - 15 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Razvan Rat

4: Manchester City

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 15: Yaya Toure of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's third goal with team mates Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez (R) during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the C

Country: England

Domestic League: 1st (45 points from 23 games)

European Competition: Europa League; 1st (Group A - 11 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Carlos Tevez

3: Real Madrid

Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 13: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid lines up a free kick during the quarter-final Copa del Rey first leg match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 13, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by

Country: Spain

Domestic League: 2nd (47 points from 18 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 1st (Group G - 16 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

2: Manchester United

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: Nani (L) of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's second goal with team mate Rafael during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford on January 4, 2011 in Manche

Country: England

Domestic League: 2nd (44 points from 20 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 1st (Group C - 14 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Nemanja Vidic

1: Barcelona

David Ramos/Getty Images

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 12: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona (C) holds the Ballon d'Or trophy flanked by his teammates Andres Iniesta (L) and Xavi Hermandez prior the Copa del Rey quarter final first leg match FC Barcelona and Betis at Camp Nou on January

Country: Spain

Domestic League: 1st (49 points from 18 games)

European Competition: Champions League; 1st (Group D - 14 points from 6 games)

Best Player: Lionel Messi