📈 Power Rankings: Aston Villa on the up, Lens finally lose | OneFootball

Power Rankings return following a big week across Europe’s top leagues and UEFA competitions.

📈 Power Rankings: Aston Villa on the up, Lens finally lose

10. Lyon (No change)

Lyon hold onto their place in the Power Rankings table after an emphatic win at Metz.

Paulo Fonseca’s side scored four before the break on route to a 5-1 victory, with January recruit Endrick hitting a hat-trick. There was also a goal for former Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton, as Lyon’s youthful side ran riot.

They’re hunting down a Champions League return.

9. Juventus (No change)

Juventus produced their best performance of the season at the weekend to stun champions Napoli.

Kenan Yildiz masterminded a big win for the Old Lady, with head coach Luciano Spalletti branding the Turkish talent an ‘alien’ at full-time. A goalless draw at Monaco in midweek also ensured progress to the play-off round in the Champions League.

8. Porto (No change)

Porto continue to power towards an unbeaten Primeira Liga season. Portugal’s table-toppers are undefeated after 19 games, seven clear of the table, and chasing a second ‘Invincible’ season after achieving the feat in 2010-11. At the weekend, they breezed past 10-man Gil Vicente with a 3-0 win.

7. Real Madrid ⬇️ (last week: 5)

Real Madrid take a tumble after a costly European setback. Having impressed to beat Villarreal in La Liga at the weekend, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side crashed at Benfica.

A 4-2 defeat, which saw Raul Ascencio and Rodrygo sent off in stoppage time, condemned Los Blancos to an unwanted play-off.

6. Lens ⬇️ (last week: 3)

The winning run is over for Lens, whose title dream suffered a dent after defeat in Marseille.

Pierre Sage’s side were two goals down inside 13 minutes, with Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri on target for Marseille, and were unable to recover. The loss means Lens lost top spot to Paris Saint-Germain.

5. Manchester City ⬆️ (last week: 7)

Following their Bodo blip, Pep Guardiola’s side regrouped to claim two important wins over the past week. Wolves were beaten at the Etihad in the Premier League, as City capitalised on a slip from Arsenal to close the gap to four points.

In midweek, a 2-0 win over Galatasaray ensured the Citizens escaped a play-off in the Champions League. City have been far from perfect, but remain in the hunt for four trophies this season.

4. Aston Villa ⬆️ (last week: 6)

Are Aston Villa capable of winning the Premier League this season? The gap to leaders Arsenal is just four points after an important – and impressive – win at Newcastle.

Unai Emery’s team ended a 21-year wait for a win at St James’ Park in style, and continue to thrive despite notable injuries. With former favourites Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz returning to flesh out the squad this month, Villa will give it all they’ve got.

3. Barcelona ⬆️ (last week: 4)

Back-to-back wins, seven goals scored, and just one conceded – Hansi Flick would like more weeks to be this straightforward. After a comfortable 3-0 win over Oviedo in La Liga, Barca survived an early scare to beat Copenhagen 4-1 and book their place in the Champions League’s last 16.

2. Arsenal (No change)

The first team to conclude a Champions League league phase campaign with a perfect record is Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s men secured a 3-2 win over Kairat Almaty to make it eight wins from eight in Europe this season, the ideal response to last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United.

A three-game winless run in the Premier League has raised questions over their title credentials, but the Gunners remain favourites.

1. Bayern Munich  (No change)

Another side that suffered a setback at the weekend, with Bayern’s unbeaten start to the season ended by Augsburg. There’s no need to panic just yet, however, with the Bavarians boasting an eight-point lead over Borussia Dortmund.

A hard-fought Champions League win at PSV got the German giants back on track.

Read – Remembering every goalkeeper to score in the Champions League

See Also – Champions League Awards: Goalie goals and Cursed Conte

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