Back to the clubs, and another round of Champions League games in the books. Where does everyone fit after the big shake up of games on Matchday 3? Have a read to see where it all plays out.
1. Manchester United
Top of Premier League, top of Group B in Champions League
Okay fine, they are not winning with the style and swagger of 2007-08. That team beats Bolton 4-0 at Old Trafford easily. But the bottom line is with the inconsisency of the other big guns of Europe, Sir Alex's men are getting results. They traditionally start to hit their form just before Christmas.
2. FC Barcelona
Top of La Liga, top of Group F in Champions League (on goal difference)
Is the pressure of defending three titles getting to them? Played out an uneventful draw at Valencia before losing at home to Rubin Kazan at midweek. Puyol and Henry have been out, but there is still plenty in the armory for the Blaugrana to deal with these opponents.
3. Chelsea
2nd in Premier League, top of Group D in Champions League
They might be #1 on this list if Ancelotti took the time with his charges to practice defending corner kicks before playing Aston Villa on Saturday. With the way Atletico Madrid is stuggling, that 4-0 win may not be much to get excited about. Still, in command of a talented group and a real threat for the Premier League title. Will the age and mileage slow them down at some point?
4. Lyon
Top of Ligue 1, top of Group E in Champions League
That win at Liverpool is better than you think. Liverpool's struggles have been against teams with a pulse, yes, but all of those struggles were on the road. Anfield on a European night is usually untouchable for visitors. I forgive the defeat to Sochaux at the weekend as they were extra motivated in playing for Charlie Davies.
5. Sevilla
3rd in La Liga, top of Group G in Champions League
My Champions League dark horse. No shame in losing at the weekend to an in-form Deportivo who have closed up shop and aren't allowing anyone to score. They rebounded nicely winning at a Stuttgart side that was desparate for a win. In firm command of their Champions League group.
6. Real Madrid
2nd in La Liga, 2nd in Group C of the Champions League
They are continually getting exposed in defense, which many expected to happen. 6 goals conceded in their last 3 matches in all competitions. Is it me, or has Kaka not settled in? Don't blame the defeat to Milan on not having Ronaldo, this team is too loaded to be a one man show.
7. Rubin Kazan
Top of Russian Premier League, 3rd in Group F of Champions League
I'm going to get some shtick here. But a team that can stay top of their domestic league, draw Inter Milan and beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp deserves this spot. A poor 45 minutes vs Dynamo Kiev prevent them from topping their Champions League group. Devil's Advocate: how good would they be if they had to play regularly in the Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A?
8. Inter Milan
Top of Serie A, bottom of Group F of Champions League
Very convincing in their 5-1 win at Genoa at the weekend but followed that up with a disappointing 2-2 at home to Dynamo Kiev. I thought Jose Mourinho was brought to Inter to win the Champions League? They are quickly becoming the most inconsistent team on this list, not to mention the most difficult to figure out.
9. Arsenal
4th in Premier League, top of Group H in Champions League
Seconds away from having a 100% record in their group, and they are getting results without Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott. Devil's Advocate: their 4-match winning streak in England are over Fulham, Birmingham, Blackburn, and Wigan. Yippee!
10. Fiorentina
4th in Serie A, 2nd in Group E of Champions League
Followed up a hard-earned point at Juventus with a harder than had to be 3 points at Debrecen to consolidate 2nd spot in their group in Europe. Unbeaten in their last four in Italy with just one goal conceded, and the four they faced were Sampdoria, Livorno, Lazio, and Juventus.
11. Manchester City
5th in Premier League
Back to back draws at Aston Villa and at Wigan aren't going to wow anyone, but they still have that win over Arsenal and that near miss in the Manchester derby.
12. Tottenham Hotspur
3rd in Premier League
Getting goals from so many different sources and seem to be over the back to back defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea. The win over Liverpool suddenly doesn't look as impressive anymore.
13. Leverkusen
Top of German Bundesliga
In a league filled with goals, no one is scoring on Leverkusen at the moment. 4 consecutive clean sheets with Hamburg and Werder Bremen among the teams who couldn't find the net.
14. Bordeaux
3rd in Ligue 1, top of Group A in Champions League
Back to back away defeats domestically keep them from being ranked any higher, topping a Champions League group that has Bayern Munich and Juventus justifies them being here.
15. Juventus
3rd in Serie A, 2nd in Group A of Champions League
Have they already been found out? They needed heroics from Chiellini to beat Maccabi Haifa, and stop a six match winless skid in all competitions. The goals have started to go buh-bye, only finding the net 3 times in their last 5 overall matches.
16. Hamburg
2nd in German Bundesliga, 2nd in Europa League group
Still boasting an impressive resume of wins domestically, and will look to get their European campaign going with a win at Celtic tonight.
17. Aston Villa
6th in Premier League
Drawing Manchester City and beating Chelsea are impressive results indeed. Opponents best be advised to not concede set pieces on corners to them.
18. Sampdoria
2nd in Serie A
The Inter win was nice but if they are to maintain a top 10 ranking, they should beat Parma and Lazio (drew them both).
19. Deportivo
4th in La Liga
4 straight wins, all clean sheets, and 5 shutouts overall. Most recent accomplishment is the win over an in form Sevilla side.
20. Dynamo Kiev
Top of Ukranian league, 2nd in Grouf F of Champions League
If you believe in Rubin Kazan, than Dynamo deserve to be on this list too. Battled hard to draw Inter at the San Siro.
21. Valencia
5th in La Liga, top of Europa League group
Battled Barcelona to a draw at the weekend and can get control of their Europa League group with a win today over Slavia Prague. And yes their players are getting paid.
22. Olympiakos
Joint top of Greek League, 2nd in Group H of Champions League
Finally caught Panathinaikos at the summit of their domestic league and have gotten some separation from AZ Alkmaar and Standard Liege in their efforts to secure a Champions League knockout place.
23. Wolfsburg
5th in German Bundesliga, 2nd in Group B of Champions League
Starting to get it in gear domestically with 4 straight unbeaten. Also holding off Besiktas and CSKA Moscow for a knockout place in the Champions League.
24. AC Milan
8th in Serie A, top of Group C in Champions League
If beating a resurgent Roma and doing the unthinkable by beating Real Madrid at the Bernabeu doesn't kick-start their season, nothing will.
25. Schalke 04
3rd in German Bundesliga
Keeping pace with Leverkusen and Hamburg in Germany at the moment, but some of the real tests are coming.
Missing the cut (in no particular order):
Sunderland
Liverpool
Montpellier
Monaco
Marseille
Real Mallorca
Unirea Urziceni
Bayern Munich
Werder Bremen
Genoa
Parma
Fenerbahce
Galatasaray
That's it for now, I'll have the next one in a couple weeks.
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Frank,
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your blog. You have a good grasp of the sport and your opinions and analysis are both entertaining and informative.
I just wanted to weigh in with a few thoughts of my own based on your latest blog with this week's rankings.
I hate United. I hate that so many teams lose their heads at Old Trafford and make stupid mistakes like gifting those bastards own goals (Bolton, Sunderland, Arsenal). The Arsenal loss still bothers me and will haunt me for quite a while. Someone needs to wipe those turds from the buttocks of the Premier League and Champions League. I do love Ryan Giggs however, but death to United.
I still think that Chelsea are the club to beat for the EPL title. You say yippee to Arsenal's wins over Fulham, Brum, B'burn and WA but those were the types of matches they were drawing or getting upset in last year so I'll take those victories. If the damn injury bug can steer clear of them they will be in the arguement come May.
The defensive clinic put on by Rubin Kazan at the Nou Camp was breathtaking. The timing of their tackles were near perfect. If they could maintain such discipline and organization on a regular basis they could hang in any league.
What a pleasure it is to see Sampdoria enjoy the level of success they are currently having. As you know I'm a fan of the blucerchiate. Giampaolo Pazzini has been a godsend. Cassano has been playing good team ball and they make quite a formidable pair. I will enjoy their success as long as it lasts. A CL bid would be awesome.
Much footy to yet be played. Should be fun.
Thanks for your time.
Jerod
No problem Jerod, thanks for the kind words and opinions. Sorry I dropped Samp so far down from the last rankings. This is the time of the year where the rankings will bounce around so much. They'll be much more stable at the turn of the year.
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