Quite a bit of shifting around since the last rankings I sent out. Many of the big names in Europe have taken a bit of a dip. Have a read to see where your time might be.
1. FC Barcelona
This is a generous ranking because: they might be getting a wee bit lazy lately. Even if they didn't put out their best team, more should be expected of them than winning 1-0 over Almeria at home. That said, Andres Iniesta is getting back into the mix, and oh goodie! They have another goalscorer in Pedrito, who hit the winner against Almeria and also scored in the Champions League match against Dynamo Kiev.
2. Chelsea FC
This is a cruel ranking because: Besides being the only team to have really pushed Barcelona in the last six months (sorry Manyoo fan, you got bossed off the park in May), they might also boast the most impressive resume of teams in the top five. The win at Sunderland is starting to look better and better. Shutting out Liverpool without Cech in goal was impressive. Not only can't you win at Stamford Bridge, you can't score their either since Hull's goal in the opener. However.....
This is a generous ranking because: that stinker at Wigan hasn't necessarily escaped anyone's memory. Winning 1-0 at APOEL Nicosia won't flatter anyone either. Did they just happen to catch Liverpool during a below-average run of form?
3. Sevilla
This is a cruel ranking because: it can be argued that no one is playing better than Sevilla now. Since losing the opener to Valencia, they have ripped off 7 straight wins in all competitions outscoring their opponents 20-3. Not only do they have playmakers, but they are proving to be stout defensively. The best thing to happen to them is the International break, as this Real Madrid win could go back under the radar to most people.
This is a generous ranking because: Real Madrid were without Cristiano Ronaldo for that match, and certainly with his form the result might have been different. Also, does this team have the depth to continue on this run?
4. Real Madrid
This is a cruel ranking because: Up until the Sevilla loss, Real Madrid were crushing and killing everything in its path. 7 straight wins outscoring opposition 27-4 before this happened, and a fit Ronaldo might have made a difference this past weekend. If Sevilla is #3, Real Madrid has to be #4.
This is a generous ranking because: We got to see what happens to this team when the injury bug hits. More of an onus was put on Karim Benzema and he couldn't deliver, and the backline was as suspect as ever.
5. Lyon
This is a cruel ranking because: it really isn't. Part of why they are this high up is because every other team out there is finding ways to drop points or lose meaningful games. Lyon meanwhile, top the French Ligue 1 and a Champions League group featuring Fiorentina and Liverpool. Unbeaten in all competitions, with Miralem Pjanic the best player you don't know about.
This is a generous ranking because: they are fattening up on French teams that are not at their level or spending power to date. Let's see what happens when they face Bordeaux, Marseille, or even Liverpool coming up in the Champions League.
6. Manchester United
This is a cruel ranking because: would you really take Lyon over Manchester United at this point? Despite the players they have lost, they have gotten wins over Arsenal, Manchester City, Wolfsburg, and at Tottenham on 10 men. This might be a team that's patching together victories before the machine starts to hum or.......
This is a generous ranking because: they have gotten extremely lucky. They needed Ben Foster's left leg, a penalty, and a Diaby own goal to beat Arsenal. They needed a lapse in concentration from the City defenders to win their derby late. Finally, they needed a most unfortunate own goal from Anton Ferdinand in stoppage time to draw Sunderland, at Old Trafford.
7. Sampdoria
This is a cruel ranking because: it isn't. Joint top of Serie A at the moment and conquerors of Inter. Pazzini and Cassano are proving to be a dangerous attacking combination.
This is a generous ranking because: they have the fortune of being able to prepare for their Serie A matches without the European distraction. They may be joint top of the league, but other wins are over bottom feeders like Catania, Siena, and Atalanta. If you rate Sampdoria this high, then Fiorentina (who beat Samp 2-0) should be up here too.
8. Inter Milan
This is a cruel ranking because: they are top of the Serie A table, and just defeated a hot Udinese team 2-1. They have been finding ways to produce results without Eto'o's goalscoring, and have given Barcelona their only dropped points in any competition this season.
This is a generous ranking because: there don't seem to be that many resources beyond Eto'o, Sneijder, Maicon, and Diego Milito. They were fortunate to draw at Rubin Kazan in the Champions League.
9. Manchester City
This is a cruel ranking because: if this team was playing in Serie A or Ligue 1, it would probably be top. So many options in attack, and a nice resume with wins over Arsenal and a draw at Aston Villa. They were also seconds away from getting a draw at Old Trafford.
This is a generous ranking because: they have been conceding some pretty sloppy goals lately. What appears to be well-taken by their opposition can be attributed to slack marking and defending, especially on set pieces and crossing situations. If you have a solid center forawrd in your team, you have a chance.
10. Hamburg
This is a cruel ranking because: Ivica who? Petric, Guerrero, and Ze Roberto have plenty of attack to offer as evidenced by the team's 20 goals in 8 Bundesliga games. Among the teams they have taken full points from are Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich.
This is a generous ranking because: How good would Hamburg be if they were in the Premier League or Serie A? In other words, would they have this kind of strike rate against teams more organized?
11. Bayer Leverkusen: Ahead of Hamburg on goal difference in Germany and tied with Schalke for the tightest defense in the league to date (5 goals conceded in 8 games). Stefan Kiessling has 6 goals through 8 matches thus far.
12. Juventus: Suddenly winless in their last four in all competitions. Injuries are playing a part in this.
13. Tottenham: most teams are going to get tagged by Manchester United and Chelsea if they had to play them in back to back weeks. Responded nicely by thrashing Burnley 5-0 and earning a hard fought draw at an improving Bolton side.
14. Arsenal: This might be the lowest they are ranked all season. Getting players healthy now and they have won six straight in all competitions since the back to back Manchester defeats, outscoring their foes 18-4 in the process.
15. Bordeaux: yes, losing 3-1 away to Saint Etienne does have its consequences. However joint top of Group A with Bayern Munich in the Champions League over Juventus.
16. Fiorentina: Unbeaten in their last four in all competitions without conceding a goal. World, if you haven't gotten to know Stefan Jovetic yet, you do now.
17. Liverpool: On talent and what they are capable of, they should be higher. On the fact they haven't beaten anyone with a pulse, they belong at this spot.
18. Fenerbahce: That is 8 wins out of their first 8 in Turkey's top flight, opening a 5 point lead over Galatasaray. Should also get out of their group in the Europa League as well.
19. Schalke 04: Felix Magath is steadying the ship in Gelsenkirchen with 3 wins in their last 4 in Germany.
20. Valencia: Have put the only blemish on Sevilla's La Liga campaign to this point and outlasted Genoa in the Europa League 3-2. The defending will need to tighten up if they expect to grab a Champions League place for next season.
21. Aston Villa: The Liverpool win suddenly isn't looking as good save for the fact that it happened at Anfield. A hard-earned draw with Manchester City yesterday.
22. Werder Bremen: Who's Diego? Unbeaten in 12 since the August 8th loss to Eintracht Frankfurt, in all competitions, scoring 33 goals in the process.
23. Panathinaikos: Perfect through six matches in Greece.
24. Bayern Munich: Hard earned draw with Juventus, but the goals have gone buh-bye, failing to find the net in their last three matches.
25. Wolfsburg: Edin Dzeko is starting to warm up. Gave Manchester United a scare at Old Trafford before losing.
Others Considered:
Genoa
Hoffenheim
Deportivo La Coruna
Olympiakos
Rubin Kazan
Montpellier
Monaco
Marseille
Mainz
Rangers
That's it for this edition, would you have changed anything to this list?
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