📈 Power Rankings: Barca back, Liverpool lose top spot | OneFootball

For the first time in weeks, there’s a change at the top. It’s Thursday, which means our Power Rankings are back.

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

📈 Power Rankings: Barca back, Liverpool lose top spot

10. Barcelona (🆕)

Barcelona are back after a stunning success in the Supercopa de España. Just when their season appeared in danger of unravelling, Hansi Flick’s side sent a statement.

For the second time this season, Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid in El Clásico with their 5-2 win coming despite Wojciech Szczesny’s red card after 56 minutes. Barca responded to Kylian Mbappe’s early goal to lead 4-1 at half-time, in a performance that could breathe new life back into their season.

Judging by their 5-1 dismantling of Real Betis in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, it just might.

9. Arsenal (👎 Last week: 5)

Arsenal exited the FA Cup at the weekend after losing to Manchester United on penalties. Despite boasting a man advantage for an hour after Diogo Dalot’s red card, Arsenal were unable to break down the visitors before losing a shootout.

The Gunners’ lack of a reliable goalscorer is apparent, with one goal scored from an xG of 6.18 across defeats to Newcastle and Man United. A North London Derby win over Spurs was the perfect response, but a cutting edge needs to be found if Arsenal are to contend.

8. Nottingham Forest (👍 Last week: 9)

Arne Slot said this week that Nottingham Forest were title contenders and The Tricky Trees certainly proved stubborn opposition for Slot’s Liverpool side.

Earlier, Forest had extended their run to seven straight wins with progress in the FA Cup before holding the Premier League leaders at the City Ground on Tuesday. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are resilient, robust, and daring to dream.

7. Real Madrid (👎 Last week: 4)

Real Madrid tumble down our rankings after their recent run of form was spectacularly ended in the Super Cup.

Kylian Mbappe’s early wonder goal threatened to be the fuse for his and Real Madrid’s season, but Barcelona bounced back in style to thrash their eternal rivals in Saudi Arabia. It’s foolish to ever write off Real, but things have not clicked this season.

6. Inter Milan (👎 Last week: 3)

Inter Milan are also fallers this week.

Fresh from capitulating in defeat to AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italia success, Inter edged unconvincingly past Venezia before being held by Bologna. Just four points separate the top three in Serie A in a title race that no side has yet taken hold of.

5. Newcastle United (👍 Last week: 8)

Newcastle’s winning run has shown no sign of coming to an end.

Eddie Howe’s side made it nine on the bounce with back-to-back wins over Bromley and Wolves in the FA Cup and Premier League.

After overcoming fourth-tier Bromley to progress in cup competition, Alexander Isak scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Wolves at St James’ Park to life the Magpies into the top four.

The Swedish striker has now scored in eight consecutive Premier League games, just three short of Jamie Vardy’s record.

4. Bayern Munich (👍 Last week: 7)

Bayern Munich have reeled off successive wins since returning from the Bundesliga’s break. Vincent Kompany’s side cemented their place as leaders in the title race, after beating Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim without conceding a goal.

The latter win saw Bayern win 5-0 at the Allianz Arena with Leroy Sane scoring twice. Incredibly, it’s the seventh time already this season that Bayern have hit 4+ goals in a Bundesliga game.

3. Bayer Leverkusen (👍 Last week: 6)

Bayer Leverkusen are chasing down Bayern Munich and made it 11 consecutive wins in all competitions over the past week.

Xabi Alonso’s side beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a thriller that saw four goals scored inside the opening 19 minutes at the Westfalenstadion.

Patrik Schick scored twice with the Czech forward one of Europe’s in-form players right now. Schick has hit 11 goals in his last seven Bundesliga games.

Alejandro Grimaldo’s goal then earned the points against Mainz and Leverkusen remain within four points of the top.

2. Liverpool (👎 Last week: 2)

Liverpool lose top spot in the table after being held in midweek.

Arne Slot’s side have won once in their last four across all competitions after being held by Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. It was a frustrating night for the Reds, who could not find a winner despite sustained second-half pressure at the City Ground.

That draw followed another stalemate with Manchester United in the Premier League and defeat to Tottenham in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie.

There’s room for improvement for Slot’s side, who have dropped off from their stunning start.

1. Atletico Madrid (👍 Last week: 2)

Atletico Madrid are in unstoppable form right now and surge to the top of our Power Rankings table.

The Spaniards stretched their winning run to 15 games in all competitions after ousting Osasuna and Elche (Copa del Rey).

Julian Alvarez scored the game’s only goal against the former to keep Atleti clear at the top of La Liga, before Alexander Sorloth’s double inspired cup progress at Elche.

Atleti are yet to concede a goal since returning from the winter break.

Read – European Golden Shoe standings – Salah, Gyokeres, Kane

See more – Five Premier League players who could move to Saudi this month

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