📈 Power Rankings: Barca on the up, PSG purring | OneFootball

Power Rankings are back with plenty of change in our latest instalment.

Here are the 10 sides in our updated Power Rankings table.

📈 Power Rankings: Barca on the up, PSG purring

10. Bayer Leverkusen (👎 Last week: 8)

Bayer Leverkusen drop down to 10th in our Power Rankings after blowing a big chance in the Bundesliga title race. Leverkusen’s grip on the title is loosening and a goalless draw with leaders Bayern Munich has done little to improve their prospects.

Xabi Alonso’s side dominated the contest, boasting 56% of the ball and limiting Bayern to just 0.05 xG. However, Leverkusen could not breach the Bayern goal with Florian Wirtz wasting a glorious late chance to win it. An eight-point gap will be difficult to make up.

9. Arsenal (👍 Last week: 10)

Arsenal kept in touch with Liverpool in the Premier League courtesy of an unlikely hero.

Mikel Merino came off the bench as an auxiliary centre-forward and scored twice late on to seal a 2-0 win at Leicester. With Liverpool dropping points at Aston Villa on Wednesday, Arsenal can up the pressure with a win over West Ham this weekend.

There’s still a sizeable gap but the Gunners have fresh hope.

8. Inter Milan (👎 Last week: 7)

Inter Milan suffered a setback in their defence of the Scudetto after losing to Juventus in The Derby d’Italia.

Francisco Conceição got the game’s only goal to leave Inter two points behind Napoli in the title race. It’s now one win in four league games for the Italian champions.

7. Napoli (🆕)

Napoli extended their lead over Inter Milan despite being held at Lazio. It was a third straight draw for Antonio Conte’s side but one that keeps the Neapolitans creeping towards a second title in three seasons.

Only Bayern Munich have taken more points in Europe’s top five leagues than Napoli over the last 10 games – with Conte’s league leaders unbeaten across that time.

6. Bayern Munich (👎 Last week: 5)

Bayern Munich fall after two unconvincing – if important – draws over the past week.

The Bavarians rode their luck to earn a goalless draw at Bayer Leverkusen, a result that maintains their healthy advantage in the Bundesliga title race. In Europe, Bayern survived a scare to progress past Celtic in the Champions League’s play-off round. Alphonso Davies’ stoppage-time equaliser earned the Germans an aggregate win at the death.

5. Atletico Madrid (👎 Last week: 4)

Atletico Madrid have fallen to third in La Liga, though battled brilliantly to earn a point at Celta Vigo at the weekend. Pablo Barrios was sent off seven minutes into the clash for a reckless challenge before Iago Aspas fired the visitors in front in the capital.

Fortunately for Diego Simeone, he has Europe’s leading super sub at his disposal. Alexander Sorloth’s 81st-minute goal rescued a point, his sixth goal off the bench in La Liga this season.

4. Barcelona (👍 Last week: 6)

Barcelona are back on the climb.

Four straight wins in La Liga have clawed the Catalans back into the title race, with slip-ups from both Madrid clubs taking Barcelona back to the summit last weekend. It wasn’t pretty during a nervy 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, but enough to send Hansi Flick’s side above their capital counterparts.

3. Liverpool (No change)

The wheels haven’t quite come off for Liverpool as some rival fans have optimistically suggested, but one win in four games is a concern for Arne Slot.

After a shock FA Cup exit to Plymouth, Liverpool have drawn two of their last three Premier League games. The only win in that time, against Wolves last weekend, was also far from convincing as the Reds failed to fire a shot on goal in the second half.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s equaliser then earned a point at Aston Villa in midweek, though Arsenal now have the chance to cut Liverpool’s lead. Slot’s side next face a tough trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

2. Real Madrid (No change)

Real Madrid surrendered top spot in La Liga last weekend after being held to a 1-1 draw at Osasuna.

Jude Bellingham’s first-half red card was costly, as Los Blancos let an early lead slip. Carlo Ancelotti’s side delivered the perfect response in midweek, however, after thrashing Manchester City to progress in the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappe scored a magnificent hat-trick in the best performance of his Real Madrid career to date. An ominous sign for rival clubs.

1. Paris Saint-Germain (No change)

Paris Saint-Germain are a cut above the competition in France so the Ligue 1 champions will have been delighted to draw French opposition in Europe.

Brest exceeded expectations to reach the Champions League’s play-off round but were crushed by their compatriots over two legs. PSG racked up an aggregate score of 10-0 over the two legs, after hitting SEVEN at the Parc des Princes in midweek.

Luis Enrique’s side are purring right now.

Read – Five of the most improved players in Europe this season

See more – Champions League Team of the Week – Olise, Guirassy, Dembele

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