Power Rankings: The best teams in Europe - Week 9 | OneFootball

There's something very, very weird in the footballing water right now.

Manchester City are nowhere near their best, Real Madrid seem to have developed a penchant for getting spanked at home, Paris Saint-Germain are 25th in the Champions League table after another home defeat, and Arsenal are not at it either.

Throw into the mix some other unforeseen results and you get a rather unexpected 10 best teams in Europe power rankings list...

Mikel Arteta is battling a mini crisis at Arsenal / George Wood/GettyImages

Some will say that Arsenal don't deserve to maintain their place in the power rankings after defeats at Newcastle United and Inter.They may well be right.But with injuries galore affecting Mikel Arteta's side, and the fact they probably shouldn't have lost at San Siro, a stay of execution has been granted.Make no mistake about it though, things have to improve. Quickly.

Nottingham Forest are riding high / Carl Recine/GettyImages

There's an argument for Bayern Munich to climb back into the power rankings top ten this week, but it wouldn't feel right to overlook the wonderful job Nuno Espirito Santo is currently doing at Nottingham Forest.Third in the Premier League (yes, THIRD in the Premier League), Forest are surprisingly absolutely everybody with their early season form, and in Chris Wood they have one of Europe's most in-form strikers.Think we're overblowing their achievements? October Player and Manager of the Month awards for Wood and Nuno say otherwise.

8. Real Madrid (down 3)

Kylian Mbappe is misfiring currently / Angel Martinez/GettyImages

Real Madrid's last three games, all played at the Santiago Bernabeu, read as follows:- Real Madrid 5-2 Borussia Dortmund- Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona- Real Madrid 1-3 AC MilanNo, we don't know what the bloody hell they are playing at, but Carlo Ancelotti, and Florentino Perez for that matter, will not be amused.

7. Manchester City (down 4)

Pep Guardiola was not happy with City's implosion at Sporting / Gualter Fatia/GettyImages

Manchester City have been without a number of key players of late, namely missing Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.Usually, City find a way to get the job done, digging into their ridiculously talented pool of players to grind out a result. But lately, that virtual guarantee of finding a way has started to subside.Surprisingly beaten by Bournemouth in the Premier League, City were then humiliated by soon-to-be Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim and his current employers Sporting CP in the Champions League.Make what you will of Pep Guardiola's contract still being up for renewal at the end of the season...

6. Atalanta (new entry)

Atalanta beat VfB Stuttgart to build on an impressive win at Napoli / THOMAS KIENZLE/GettyImages

Last season's Europa League winners Atalanta are always a good watch, particularly if you like your football matches to contain goals, goals and more goals.And they are steadily proving that their recent success under Gian Piero Gasperini - into his ninth season at the club - is by no means a fluke.Serie A leaders Napoli and VfB Stuttgart were the latest to fall victims to Atalanta this past week, being beaten on their own patches 3-0 and 2-0 respectively.

5. SSC Napoli (down 1)

It wasn't a great weekend for Conte and Napoli / Francesco Pecoraro/GettyImages

Things have been going really well for Antonio Conte and Napoli, who are no doubt benefitting from not competing in European competition.But every once in a while, Conte's magic formula self-combusts in spectacular style - surprisingly the Italian himself manages to stay in one piece - and that's exactly what happened against Atalanta.Ademola Lookman scored twice in the first half hour and Napoli just didn't have any answers.

4. Inter (up 4)

It was joy for Inter and Hakan Calhanoglu / Anadolu/GettyImages

Simone Inzaghi's Inter are known for their resolute defending and ability to haul themselves over the line by the odd goal, so it was a bit of a surprise when Juventus rocked up to share an eight-goal thriller at the end of October.It's been somewhat less of a surprise to see how Inter have responded in the three games that have followed:- Empoli 0-3 Inter- Inter 1-0 Venezia- Inter 1-0 ArsenalLaw and order has been restored.

3. Sporting CP (up 3)

Sporting CP tore Manchester City apart in Lisbon / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

Manchester United supporters sat down with bated breath in midweek, no doubt wanting to familiarise themselves with new head coach Ruben Amorim.They would likely have known that the 39-year-old is a two-time Primeira Liga winner with Sporting CP, and would also have heard through the grapevine that Amorim had led his side to victory in all ten of their league games to date with an aggregate score of 35-2.What they might not have expected was for Amorim to blow away Manchester City in the Champions League with a truly stunning second half display - one that showcased just how good Viktor Gyokeres, wanted by every major club on the continent, is.

2. Liverpool (-)

Luis Diaz is in the form of his life / Carl Recine/GettyImages

Arne Slot his quietly gone about his business at Liverpool this season, breaking a number of records to make the transition from Jurgen Klopp unbelievably seamless.But there was certainly nothing quiet about Liverpool's comeback win over Brighton in the Premier League - a huge result given City and Arsenal's woes - and the romping 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League - a team lauded for their progress under Xabi Alonso.Sit up and take notice, Liverpool are on fire.

There's no stopping Barcelona at the moment / Srdjan Stevanovic/GettyImages

As good as Liverpool have been, Hansi Flick's Barcelona have been that little bit better.The Catalan giants are playing some tremendous football under the German, freeing themselves of the pressure from Xavi's final few months in charge, and in Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha they have two outstanding players who can do no wrong.Neighbourhood rivals Espanyol were swatted to one side in Barca's latest La Liga encounter before Red Star were taught a Champions League lesson in their own backyard.