La Liga Power Rankings, Week 4: Valencia Leads, but Barcelona Is the Best

When was the last time La Liga had a leader different from Barcelona or Real Madrid?

It was actually one year ago, that Valencia also started the season with three victories, while the two giants of the Spanish football had dropped points.

We all know how big the margin between Barça/Madrid and Valencia was at the end of 2010-2011, so let’s not celebrate too much about seeing different jerseys at the top of the standings.

Valencia and Betis are the leaders, but Barcelona recovers the top spot in the Power Rankings after dismantling Osasuna last Saturday.

Remember, the power rankings are not statistics, rather they are a combination of recent performances, position in the table, perceived strengths and the opinion of yours truly.

So, yeah, you might not agree with the order in the list, but we can discuss that in the comments section below.

You can find La Liga power rankings here every Tuesday (this time earlier due to the midweek fixture).

20. Sporting
Last week’s position: 19th
Result this week: Sporting 0-1 Valencia
Sporting is the only team that has yet to get a point this season.

19. Getafe
Last week’s position: 17th
Result this week: Getafe 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Getafe was supposed to be the third best team from Madrid, but Rayo refuted that.

18. Racing
Last week’s position: 16th
Result this week: Atlético 4-0 Racing
Everybody in Santander expected a defeat and their team didn’t disappoint.

17. Villarreal
Last week’s position: 13th
Result this week: Granada 1-0 Villarreal
Coach Juan Carlos Garrido better fixes his team or his seat will get hotter.

16. Athletic
Last week’s position: 11th
Result this week: Athletic 2-3 Betis
Athletic had been impressive in their Europa League game against Slovan Bratislava, but they were terrible against Betis.

15. Granada
Last week’s position: 20th
Result this week: Granada 1-0 Villarreal
An unexpected but very welcomed victory for one of the clear candidates for relegatrion.

14. Zaragoza
Last week’s position: 18th
Result this week: Zaragoza 2-1 Espanyol
Los Maños won a Mexican-flavor match, with three players and one coach from that country.

13. Osasuna
Last week’s position: Eighth
Result this week: Barcelona 8-0 Osasuna
They were the unlucky bastards who got a mad Barcelona squad.

12. Mallorca
Last week’s position: Tenth
Result this week: Mallorca 0-1 Málaga
One goal in three games is just too little for a team that dreams with a spot in the Europa League.

11. Espanyol
Last week’s position: Ninth
Result this week: Zaragoza 2-1 Espanyol
This time goalkeeper Cristian Suárez wasn’t enough to save Los Periquitos.

10. Rayo
Last week’s position: 15th
Result this week: Getafe 0-1 Rayo Vallecano
Who would have thought Rayo would remain undefeated after three matches?

9. Real Sociedad
Last week’s position: Fourth
Result this week: Sevilla 1-0 Real Sociedad
This time there was no magic like one week earlier against Barcelona.

8. Atlético
Last week’s position: 12th
Result this week: Atlético 4-0 Racing
Radamel Falcao got his first hat-trick for Los Colchoneros.

7. Levante
Last week’s position: 14th
Result this week: Levante 1-0 Real Madrid
Levante got the biggest upset of the season so far.

6. Malaga
Last week’s position: Sixth
Result this week: Mallorca 0-1 Malaga
Manuel Pellegrini’s boys are already in the Europa League zone.

5. Betis
Last week’s position: Seventh
Result this week: Athletic 2-3 Betis
In their first true test, Betis proved they will contend for an European spot.

4. Sevilla
Last week’s position: Fifth
Result this week: Sevilla 1-0 Real Sociedad
Sevilla eased very well a complicated start in the schedule.

3. Real Madrid
Last week’s position: First
Result this week: Levante 1-0 Real Madrid
This kind of upsets is what derailed Los Merengues last season.

2. Valencia
Last week’s position: Third
Result this week: Sporting 0-1 Valencia
One more time, Los Chés start the league ahead Barça and Madrid; will it last? We’ll see this Wednesday, when Valencia hosts Lionel Messi and friends.

1. Barcelona
Last week’s position: Second
Result this week: Barcelona 8-0 Osasuna
Don’t ever dare to make them mad.

Also Read

* La Liga Power Rankings, Week 3: Real Madrid Takes the Lead

* La Liga Power Rankings, Week 2: Already a Race of Two

* La Liga Preseason Power Rankings: Barcelona Is Clearly No. 1

Follow me on Twitter: @luisrha