UEFA Champions League 2011: Power Rankings Day 3

With the third round of group play now completed, teams are finally beginning to find their footing in Europe or fall by the wayside as the pressure mounts too high. As teams get decisive wins that move them up in the group, or losses that have them falling to their eventual elimination, we can finally start separating the pretenders from contenders.

Many of the clubs from the big-time leagues (Germany, England, France, Italy, Spain) walk away from this week feeling good about their results. Most are starting to rest easy as they stand atop their groups or well placed to at least advance. Others are looking ahead and plotting a course that won’t have them hanging their heads in shame come early December.

This is a ranking based on their performance this week in accordance to their rankings last time. As always, the number in parenthesis is their previous ranking.

17. Villarreal (16)

The only club from the “big” leagues to yet acquire a point have effectively eliminated themselves from the competition with their loss to Manchester City on Tuesday. In what was a must-win game, the trip to Ethiad was probably welcomed as City have struggled in Champions League this season. They got off to a great start scoring in the fourth minute on a rebound put in by Cani. However, a tough own goal on Carlos Marchena evened things just before the half.

Coming away with a point from City is not a terrible outcome, but in the final touch of the game Sergio “unstoppable” Aguero scored the game-clincher and put Villarreal out of their Champions League misery.

It is often a testament to a team that can pull off a victory when they don’t deserve one or even able to push through and get a late goal. It is equally a sign of ineffectiveness when a team can play well and deserves a point, but is not able to come up with it in the end. It may be for the best as they can now focus on La Liga where they are not performing at their best either.

16. Borussia Dortmund (15)

The German champs continue to find this season much more difficult than their last. Their 3-1 loss in Greece to Olympiakos leaves them with one point in the first three matches and sitting bottom of the table with not much prospect for advancing. The Greeks were always predicted to finish last in group F, but their first points did more to hurt the Germans than help themselves.

Oddly enough it was a game of missed opportunities for Olympiakos. Dortmund never seemed to find their form as they were unable to capitalize on the few chances they had. On the plus side, they have two of their next three at home. They will most likely need to take full points from those games if they want any hope of advancing and not having a one-and-done year after last season’s title run.

15. Lille (16)

Lille has become the poster child for the belief that the Champions League is something other than your domestic one. The French champions' youth and vitality that won them the Ligue 1 has been exposed at this level. They are unable to capitalize on chances as they would go down 1-0 against a desperate Inter side.

Though they are currently at the bottom of the table with two points, they are still only four behind Inter. The problem is that their two more difficult games, against Inter and CSKA are in Italy and Russia respectively.

If it was not an upward battle before it sure has become one now. Considering how this young team has handled the pressure of Champions League thus far, it is doubtful they will get through to the knockout rounds considering the hardest part of their schedule is yet to come.

14. Lyon (13)

Lyon were perhaps the only team that could play spoilers to Madrid’s run toward the trophy. Instead they lied down before the Spanish giants and accepted their beating. The 4-0 loss was not something to be proud of, but it essentially became a game of just keeping them out of the goal, as second in this group could very possibly come down to goal differential.

13. Valencia (11)

The best of the rest last year in Spain is having trouble finding their stride in Europe this season. After dominating Leverkusen in the opening half, they were only able to register a single goal. It wasn’t enough as the Germans clawed their way back for what could be seen as an upset loss.

With only two points through three games, things are not going well. Valencia could very be easily looking at only one point had it not been for a terrible handball by Salomon Kalou. They only sit a single point above lowly Genk and four behind Leverkusen for second.

They play Leverkusen in the return match in two weeks. It has essentially become a must-win for the seaside team.

12. Inter Milan (14)

The truly dreadful start to Inter’s Serie A campaign seems not to be affecting their Champions League challenge. Well, not too much at least. Their 1-0 win over Lille on Tuesday was enough to boost them to the top of what is proving to be a terrible Group B.

They may have not necessarily deserved the win as they were out-shot, out-possessed and outplayed in France, but a W does not care as to how it is obtained.

Interesting fact—Inter now have twice as many wins in three CL games as they do in seven Serie A games. Is it possible that you could get to the Champions League knockout rounds and get relegated in the same season? Looks like Inter are trying to see just that.

11. Marseille (8)

The French runner-ups will be kicking themselves for their late 1-0 loss against Arsenal on Wednesday. With their main challengers for top of Group F visiting them in the Stade Vélodrome, they missed out on a key opportunity to go nine points clear and have the group all but wrapped. Instead they were unable to put away their chances and will rue an injury-time goal.

The game itself was competitive as both teams had their chances. Both teams also had claims to a handball, but neither was called so ultimately it becomes a moot point. Marseille still sit in a good place to advance to the knockout rounds, but now must take away something from Emirates if they don’t want to face a stiff competition in the first 16.

10. Manchester City (12)

City’s explosive start to the season has leveled off into the kind of team they may really be a very good one. However going into Tuesday, they were still not where they needed to be in this competition. With only one point to show for two games, they needed to really score a win quickly. Nothing better to cure their CL growing pains than Villarreal.

It may have not been the prettiest of victories, but it was a victory nonetheless. Sergio Aguero again looked magnificent both on and off the ball and was rewarded with tap-in goal in the 90^th minute. They proved that they could persevere and get a win the hard way.

The three points keep them in contention for the top of the group and helped get them over the hurdle. After the debacle on the sideline a few weeks ago, it is much welcomed that the attention turns back to their performance on the field.

9. Manchester United (7)

Ferguson’s men needed two penalties from Wayne Rooney as he returned to action following his inexcusable red card in Euro qualifiers. Those were the difference in Bucharest on Tuesday as the Red Devils would walk away with a disappointing 2-0 victory.

Fergie took few chances in a game that appeared to be one their easiest in the season on the calendar. But their CL struggles forced everyone from Nani to Rooney to suit up for the full 90. Still two points back of Benefica in the group, they are not able to hit any more bumps in the road, if not to possibly meet a much stiffer opponent in the first knockout round than they had planned.

8. Bayer Leverkusen (10)

Most looked at Group E and plugged Chelsea in to win and Valencia to get through in second. However, Bayer Leverkusen are having something to say about that with a crucial 2-1 victory over visiting Valencia. It was a huge win that not only gave them a four-point difference between second and third, but also keeps them within one point of Chelsea for the lead.

After falling behind in the first half, they successfully repelled a flurry of attack in what was mostly one way traffic. However, the second half belonged to the hosts as they were able to score two for the come-from-behind win. They head back to the Mestalla in two weeks. A win there would pretty much guarantee passage to the knockout rounds.

7. Arsenal (9)

Arsene Wenger’s men may not be having the best of time in England, but they are sure finding their footing in Europe. Not all of their matches have been pretty, including their 1-0 victory over Marseille in stoppage time, but they have been enough to go a top of Group F with seven points.

Wenger has come under much scrutiny for his dealings this summer. His letting go of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas without replacing them with another high-profile name did not earn him the respect of many fans. But the signsings he did make (Arteta, Gervinho, Mertesacker) all had their best on display last night and were crucial in a much-needed victory.

When Marseille return to the Emirates in two weeks' time, it could be a game that could wrap up the group for the Gunners. That could really go a long way in allowing them to focus on the league where they continue to struggle.

6. AC Milan

Milan got as critical a win as they could over Belarusian side BATE Borisov. The scoreline of 2-0 in Italy and the fact that they dominated the game from start to finish will surprise no one, but when you are in a group with Barcelona every game is a must-win.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic put away his second goal of the Champions League campaign to put Milan ahead. Kevin-Prince Boateng would add another in the second half to secure the victory. Milan play two of their next three away, but their home match is against Barca.

They look in a real good spot to possibly take the group and really make a headache for the winner of another group who would be rewarded with playing the Catalans in the first knockout round.

5. Napoli (5)

Sometimes the gods of sport gift you with a win when you don’t deserve it, but that kind of fortune can create a team of destiny. The least sexy of the four teams in Group A is the only team to register a goal against the German giants Bayern Munich since Borussia Monchengladbach got a 1-0 win over two months ago. Albeit an own goal, it keeps the Italians only two points back of Bayern for the top of Group A.

Napoli’s 1-1 tie against City a few weeks back derailed a sky-blue train that seemed on its way to every trophy on the continent. Since then City has had trouble getting back to that streaking form. It will be interesting to see if Bayern hits the same hiccup at the hands of what might be a real contender to go deep in this tournament.

4. Bayern Munich (2)

Bayern suffered their first setback of their Champions League campaign as they were only able to manage a 1-1 draw in Napoli. However, few Munich fans will come away from the game with any kind of worries in mind. With a handful of chances going against them, including Holger Badstuber’s own goal and a penalty miss by Mario Gomez, you could really chalk the draw up to the fact it just was not their night.

With 58 percent possession and the fact that they held Napoli to only three shots and none on goal, they were by far the dominant side. They now only sit two points ahead of Napoli in Group A, but with two of their next three at home, they should have the group wrapped up by the time they head to Etihad Stadium to finish out group play.

A win would have been nice to keep them perfect, but they are still on pace to have a historical season.

3. Barcelona (3)

A 2-0 win at home against lowly Viktoria Plzen may not have been the ideal result, especially given the fact they regularly put away four or five against the world’s minnows, but it was a win nonetheless and keeps them tied with Milan for top of Group H.

For the first time in a handful of years, Barca is looking forward to their schedule and it does not exactly favor them. They have back-to-back games on the road and one of those is in Milan which will probably decide the group winner.

But then again, this is Barcelona and they have Lionel Messi. I think the schedule always favors them.

2. Chelsea (4)

Arguably the best performance of the week was at Stamford Bridge. Their 5-0 thumping of Genk could have easily been more. Fernando Torres found his form in the most satisfying of ways, scoring two, but could have had three or four.

Chelsea is really beginning to come together as a team. Even though this kind of result was expected against the Belgians, it is quite something when they actually go out there and make it happen. They played without Juan Mata and still threatened the goal every time they had the ball.

Chelsea’s depth has been called into question throughout the season, but on Wednesday they proved they have more than enough on their roster. But perhaps the most impressive thing about the win is that they can come back from their gaffe last game against Valencia and played at the top of their game.

1. Real Madrid (1)

Madrid seems to be on cruise control as they again dismantled a CL opponent. This time it was their main contenders to top Group D, Lyon. However, Los Blancos made them look as small as any other minnow with a 4-0 thumping in the Spanish capital.

They now stand alone as the only team with a perfect record and nine points. They all but mathematically have the group locked up and can already set their sights toward the knockout stage. Right now, as much as it may pain a Barca fan to hear, Madrid is the team to beat.

How would you rank the teams?