📈 Power Rankings: Europe's top 10 teams to start the new season | OneFootball

The men’s domestic game is back under way all across Europe so it’s time to restart the Power Rankings.

For the first time this season, and all with 100% league records at this early stage of the season, here’s our top 10 …

10. Valencia

Valencia finished 16th last season and needed until April to win back-to-back LaLiga matches. Safe to say things are looking a bit rosier this time around.

A 2-1 win at Sevilla kicked off the campaign and was followed up with a 1-0 victory over Las Palmas as summer signing Pepelu scored the game’s only goal from the penalty spot. That’s much more like it.

9. Arsenal

Another side who have won their opening two league games 2-1 and 1-0, Arsenal looked in control for almost the entire game against Nottingham Forest and as long as it was 11-v-11 against Crystal Palace on Monday.

The wins were narrow but the Gunners will be happy to have picked up all six points while bedding in new signings at the same time. There can be no let-up when Manchester City are the side in your sights and let’s not forget Mikel Arteta’s team did also win the Community Shield, beating City on penalties at Wembley.

8. Rayo Vallecano

Another LaLiga side with two wins from two, Rayo Vallecano have done it without conceding to date. Four goals (two of them penalties) have come from four different scorers in 2-0 wins over Almería and Granada to give Rayo a perfect early start.

The visit of Atlético de Madrid this weekend will be a true test.

7. Bayer Leverkusen

Can Xabi Alonso’s men really mount a title challenge this season? Well … maybe?

The opening day of the Bundesliga season followed an 8-0 win in the DFB-Pokal and saw Leverkusen, with Granit Xhaka in midfield, beat fellow possible-challengers RB Leipzig (fresh from a 3-0 win against Bayern Munich) 3-2 in an entertaining game. New striker Victor Boniface looks like a real handful and Florian Wirtz is fully fit. They’re one of this season’s teams to watch for sure.

6. PSV Eindhoven

Winners of the Johan Cruyff Shield (the Dutch Super Cup), winners of two Eredivisie games so far, winners of two Champions League legs against Sturm Graz.

The flying start to the season came to a halt — or dipped, at least — as PSV drew 2-2 with Rangers on Tuesday but it has still been a strong enough start to the campaign and they look a good bet for a first league title since 2018 if the very early signs are anything to go by.

5. Boavista

Boavista enjoyed an incredible start to the new season in a dramatic 3-2 win against Benfica. They went behind, then equalised against 10 men before falling behind again. A 90th minute penalty saw them draw level for a second time before they were reduced to 10 themselves in the 100th minute … before scoring a third to win the game two minutes later.

Following that up with a 4-1 win at Portimonense, we have surprise early leaders in Portugal, and Róbert Bozeník could be a name to look out for with three goals already.

4. Manchester City

The Community Shield may have ended in defeat but that has not impacted City’s start to the new campaign. Nor, seemingly, has Kevin De Bruyne’s opening day injury.

Pep Guardiola’s side swatted Burnley aside in the league before rallying to come from behind and win the UEFA Super Cup on penalties against Sevilla. Back in Premier League action last weekend, Phil Foden shone in the impressive 1-0 win over a dangerous Newcastle side. City have picked up where they left off.

3. Real Madrid

Real Madrid or Jude Bellingham Club de Fútbol? The Englishman has arrived in the Spanish capital and we think he’s going to like it there: his two games so far have yielded three goals and an assists as he plays at the tip of a diamond. A true Carlo Ancelotti special.

With Athletic Club and Almería beaten with relative ease, Real Madrid are two points clear of rivals Barcelona and Atlético. A marker has been laid down already.

2. Monaco

With Paris Saint-Germain in uncertain times and drawing their opening two games, the door could be open for someone in France this season and Monaco will want to be that someone.

Two games, two wins, seven goals scored and two conceded. Takumi Minamino has started the season superbly and they could yet add Folarin Balogun from Arsenal. A side on a mission, it seems.

1. Brighton

Who else?

Brighton kicked off the season with a 4-1 win over Luton and followed that up with a 4-1 win over Wolves last weekend as Roberto De Zerbi’s men continue to enthral even as they continue to sell key players. There are tougher tests to come but the Seagulls continue to be the most enjoyable side in the Premier League to watch and are grabbing the results to match.