The Football Faithful
·28. November 2024
The Football Faithful
·28. November 2024
After a brief pause for the international break, weâre back with our Power Rankings table and a huge name drops out of the 10.
Here are the 10 sides in our updated Power Rankings table.
Galatasaray extended their unbeaten run in the Turkish SĂŒper Lig with a narrow 1-0 win at Bodum. After a record-breaking points haul in 2023/24, the champions are chasing another title and have been supercharged by the signing of Victor Osimhen.
It was super-sub Michy Batshuayi, however, who settled their weekend game. Snapped up in the summer from arch-rivals Fenerbahce, he ensured Gala stay five clear of their Istanbul neighbours.
PSV continue to sit pretty in our Power Rankings table, with Peter Boszâs side largely flawless so far this season. The Dutch champions waltzed to a weekend win over Groningen, scoring five times without reply.
Itâs been a brilliant week for Ricardo Pepi, who hit a hat-trick in that win before scoring a last-gasp winner as PSV produced a stunning fightback in Europe. After finding themselves 2-0 down to Shakhtar Donetsk with 86 minutes gone, the Eredivisie outfit turned it around with Pepi grabbing the decisive goal.
Welcome back, Bayer Leverkusen.
Almost ever-presents last season, Leverkusenâs up-and-down start to the season has seen the Bundesliga Invincibles flit in and out of our Power Rankings table. However, consecutive five-goal displays have propelled Xabi Alonsoâs men back into our ranks.
After easing past FC Heidenheim at the weekend, Leverkusen thrashed Red Bull Salzburg 5-0 in the Champions League with Florian Wirtz at his brilliant best. The 21-year-old has now claimed four man-of-the-match awards in five European games this season.
A harsh tumble, granted, but the manner of Sportingâs humiliation at home to Arsenal sees the Portuguese champions fall.
Sporting have proven themselves a cut above Portuguese football and a 6-0 cup win over Amarante got new manager JoĂŁo Pereira off to a dream start. However, a crushing 5-1 defeat in Europe in midweek saw their unbeaten run in the Champions League ended emphatically.
Atalanta just keep rolling on under Gian Piero Gasperini.
No side in Europeâs top 10 leagues has a better record over the last 10 games, with Atalantaâs nine wins and a draw matching Zenit St Petersburg and Liverpool.
The Italians won 3-1 at Parma at the weekend before scoring six times to thrash Young Boys in the Champions League. It was a big night for Charles De Ketelaere, who became the first player to score twice and assist three goals in a Champions League game.
What a difference a week makes. The international break came at a good time for Arsenal and the Gunners have returned to action with a bang. A potential banana skin was navigated against Nottingham Forest with one of the clubâs best performances of the season. After that 3-0 win at the Emirates, the North Londoners tore apart Sporting Lisbon.
Just a matter of weeks after Manchester City were well beaten on the same ground, Arsenal recorded a 5-1 win over the Portuguese champions to climb into the Champions Leagueâs top eight.
Inter are risers after stretching their unbeaten run to 12 games. The Scudetto holders won 5-0 at Verona at the weekend â scoring all five goals before half-time â with the in-form Marcus Thuram on target twice.
That win was followed by another, after Inter edged out RB Leipzig in the Champions League. Itâs five clean sheets in their last six for Inter, who are back to their resolute best under Simone Inzaghi.
Barcelona remain third in our Power Rankings table, having allowed Real Madrid back into the title race in La Liga.
Hansi Flickâs side blew a 2-0 lead late on against Celta Vigo to draw, after Marc Casado was sent off with eight minutes to go. The result leaves them four clear at the top, though the Catalans have played a game more.
Barca bounced back to beat Brest 3-0 in the Champions League in midweek, with the timeless Robert Lewandowski passing 100 career goals in the competition.
Bayern Munich move up to second after extending their winning run to seven games.
Harry Kane hit a hat-trick as Augsburg were beaten 3-0 on Friday night before the Germans secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over PSG in Europe. In a battle between two underperforming giants, Kim Min-jaeâs goal earned Bayern the points.
After question marks around the defensive strength of Vincent Kompanyâs side, Bayern have reeled off seven successive clean sheets. The Bavarians havenât conceded a goal since October 23.
Can anyone knock Liverpool off the top spot? Right now, it doesnât look likely.
Arne Slotâs side have won 14 of their last 15 games in all competitions and sit proudly atop the Premier League and Champions League standings.
The Reds extended their lead in the former to eight points after a come-from-behind win over Southampton, before sending a statement with a 2-0 win over European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Manchester City are up next at Anfield this weekend. Another win will have the Liverpool fans daring to dream.