📈 Power Rankings: Real Madrid slip, Bayern back on top | OneFootball

Our Power Rankings are back for another update, as heavyweights PSG and Real Madrid tumble down the table.

📈 Power Rankings: Real Madrid slip, Bayern back on top

10. Paris Saint-Germain ⬇️ (last week: 6)

Could we really see the omnipresent Paris Saint-Germain drop out of the Power Rankings table?

Luis Enrique’s side were unstoppable during the second half of last season, with a Parisian power surge ending in quadruple success. PSG remain right in the mix for honours this season, but there have been many clearer chinks in the armour. Their defence of the French Cup ended on Monday night, following a 1-0 reverse at home to neighbours Paris FC.

It was a smash-and-grab defeat, but the sort PSG can not afford more of if they’re to defend their other titles.

9. Real Madrid ⬇️ (last week: 4)

Football changes quickly. Just last week, we were writing about how Xabi Alonso had eased some of the pressure on his shoulders at Real Madrid.

Fast forward seven days, and Alonso is gone, while his replacement endured a nightmare start. Alonso’s exit came after a Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, with Alvaro Arbeloa taking up the reins on an interim basis.

Arbeloa’s debut was a disaster, however, as Los Blancos lost at Albacete to crash out of the Copa del Rey.

Their opponents are currently 17th in Spain’s second tier…

8. Juventus ⬆️ (last week: 10)

Juventus have a spring in their step with the summit of Serie A well in sight.

The Bianconeri have won five of their last six in the league, including a 5-0 thrashing of Cremonese earlier this week.

Cagliari are up next, before a mouthwatering showdown with champions Napoli at the end of the month.

7. Porto ⬆️ (last week: 9)

Porto continue to chase treble success this season and reached the Taça de Portugal semi-finals this week with a big win. Jan Bednarek’s goal was the difference as Porto beat Benfica in a huge clash between two of Portugal’s ‘Big Three’.

With that semi-final to come, a seven-point advantage over defending champions Sporting Lisbon in the Primeira Liga, and Europa League progress in sight, things are looking good for Francesco Farioli’s side.

6. Aston Villa ⬆️ (last week: 7)

Another side in the hunt for trophies, though with a longer drought to break.

Unai Emery’s side beat Tottenham Hotspur to progress into round four of the FA Cup at the weekend, following first-half goals for Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers. Can The Villans secure their first silverware since 1996 this season?

5. Manchester City ⬇️ (last week: 8)

Manchester City bounced back from recent results in style over the last week, with a new face at the heart of it. Antoine Semenyo marked his debut with a goal and an assist, as the Citizens thrashed Exeter City 10-1 in the FA Cup.

In the process, City became the first English top-flight team to score 10 times in a competitive game since 1986.

Semenyo was then the hero again in midweek, with the decisive goal in the club’s 1-0 win at Newcastle. City now have a first-leg lead to protect in their League Cup semi-final.

4. Lens ⬆️ (last week: 5)

The surprise package of the Power Rankings table and in French football this season.

Lens looked on a downward trajectory as stars departed following their runners-up finish in 2022-23, but their back better than before. The Ligue 1 leaders have now won nine games in a row in all competitions and eased past Sochaux 3-0 in the French Cup last weekend.

Confidence is flowing.

3. Barcelona ⬇️ (last week: 2)

A harsh fall for Barcelona, who have not put a foot wrong in recent weeks.

It’s 10 consecutive wins for the Catalans, who claimed the first silverware of the Spanish season this week.

A 3-2 win over Real Madrid delivered the Spanish Super Cup to the Camp Nou.

2. Arsenal ⬇️ (last week: 1)

Again, harsh to fall, but the leapfrogging leaders push Arsenal down a spot.

Mikel Arteta’s team continue to chase all honours, however, with FA Cup and League Cup wins this week keeping their quadruple dream alive.

Gabriel Martinelli scored a hat-trick in the comeback win at Portsmouth last weekend, before Arsenal earned a first-leg lead in their Carabao Cup semi-final with Chelsea. The 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge has increased optimism about ending the club’s recent record in semi-finals.

1. Bayern Munich ⬆️ (last week: 3)

Bayern Munich fell last week as a result of inactivity, but what a comeback for the German giants.

Fresh from the winter break, Bayern blitzed Wolfsburg 8-1 at the weekend in an extraordinary, clinical performance at the Allianz.

The goals rained in again in midweek, as Köln were put to the sword. A 3-1 win saw Bayern maintain their unbeaten league campaign.

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