📈 Power Rankings: Manchester City crash, Real rise | OneFootball

Our Power Rankings are back as Real Madrid rise and Manchester City crash down the table.

📈 Power Rankings: Manchester City crash, Real rise

10. Lyon

Lyon join the Power Rankings table for the first time this season, leapfrogging domestic rivals Paris Saint-Germain to enter the top 10.

Paulo Fonseca’s side have been transformed since his return to the dugout from suspension, winning nine of their last 10 games in all competitions.

Their run has taken Lyon within two points of the Champions League places in Ligue 1, while securing Europa League progress to the last 16.

A 1-0 win at Young Boys on Thursday means Lyon lead the Europa League table, ahead of Aston Villa, ahead of the final fixtures.

9. Juventus ⬇️ (last week: 8)

A mixed week for The Old Lady, whose Serie A title hopes were dented following a 1-0 defeat at Cagliari.

That result ended a six-game unbeaten streak in the league, though Juventus responded well with a 2-0 win over Benfica in Europe. Juventus remain a chance to qualify for the last 16 via the top eight.

8. Porto ⬇️ (last week: 7)

Porto took on two ‘victories’ this week, first facing Vitoria SC in the Primeira Liga, where Alan Varela’s late penalty earned the league leaders a valuable win on the road.

In midweek, the Portuguese side were held at Viktoria Plzen, a result that saw them fall out of the top eight in the Europa League. Porto will be determined to avoid a play-off amid a pursuit for trophies on multiple fronts.

7. Manchester City ⬇️ (last week: 5)

Weeks don’t get much worse than this for Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s side were dire during their derby defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford – and arguably even worse in Europe.

City crashed to a stunning upset loss at Bodo/Glimt, as the tournament debutants earned their first-ever Champions League win against the 2023 winners. For perhaps the first time during his tenure, questions are being asked about Guardiola.

6. Aston Villa (No change)

Could Unai Emery win the Europa League again this season?

The Spaniard might insist Aston Villa are not title challengers in the Premier League despite sitting third in the table, but Villa secured Europa League progress with a game to spare.

Emery has won the Europa League a record four times as manager, last doing so with Villarreal in 2021, and managed Villa to a 1-0 win over Fenerbahce in his 100th game in the competition on Thursday. The perfect response to a flat performance against Everton last weekend.

5. Real Madrid ⬆️ (last week: 9)

Alvaro Arbeloa has got Real Madrid back on track after an unforgiving start to his tenure. A 2-0 win over Levante in La Liga ensured Los Blancos closed in on Barcelona at the top, before an exhilarating European performance.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior dazzled as the Spanish side took apart AS Monaco in the Champions League. Arbeloa will hope the 6-1 win is a sign of things to come.

4. Barcelona ⬇️ (last week: 3)

Barcelona’s lead in La Liga has been slashed to just one point after a costly defeat at Real Sociedad last weekend. Goncalo Guedes found a winner for Sociedad, just one minute after Barcelona had equalised in San Sebastien.

The setback saw Real Madrid close in, as La Liga’s title race heats up perfectly.

Hansi Flick will have been pleased to see his side respond with an important Champions League win at Slavia Prague.

3. Lens ⬆️ (last week: 4)

No side across Europe’s top five leagues is in better form than Lens right now. A 1-0 win over Auxerre made it 10 consecutive wins in all competitions, and maintained their lead in Ligue 1.

Hopes of a first title since 1998 are alive.

2. Arsenal (No change)

Are Arsenal the Champions League favourites? The bookmakers think so.

The North Londoners secured a club-record seven straight Champions League wins in midweek, overcoming an acid test to win at Inter Milan.

Through to the last 16 with a game to spare, and seven points clear in the Premier League, Mikel Arteta’s team are set up for a season to remember.

1. Bayern Munich  (No change)

It’s frankly absurd how far above the competition Bayern Munich are in Germany this season.

An anticipated ‘tricky test’ at RB Leipzig seemed to be panning out as expected, as Leipzig led at half-time through Romulo’s goal.

But Bayern did what Bayern do.

The Bavarians floored the throttle in the second half, to run out 5-1 winners at the Red Bull Arena.

A comfortable midweek win in Europe maintained their stunning post-winter break form.

Read – Arjen Robben: The ‘one-trick pony’ who couldn’t be stopped

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