📈 Power Rankings: Five new entries as Spanish giants drop out | OneFootball

We’ve really shaken our Power Rankings up this week with not one, not two, not three, not four, but five new entries!

And perhaps controversially, we’ve said goodbye to Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Let’s get stuck in shall we?

10. Club Brugge (🆕)

It has been a strange season so far for Club Brugge. Last weekend’s 2-0 home defeat at hands of Westerlo was their third of the season and leaves the reigning champions eight points adrift of leaders Antwerp in the race for the Belgian title.

But on Wednesday night they sealed qualification for the Champions League knockout phase for the first time ever thanks to a rigid defence which is yet to concede a goal in Europe this season. Redemption at last for Simon Mignolet.

9. Udinese (👎 Last time: 7)

Serie A’s surprise package of the season so far were on the verge of dropping out of our rankings when they found themselves 2-0 down at home to Atalanta on Sunday.

But a spirited fight-back saw them earn a 2-2 draw, making it eight matches unbeaten and leaving them 4th in the table.

8. Union Berlin (🆕)

Their 2-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on 1 October appeared to be the universe’s way of saying to Union: “You’ve had your fun at the top of the Bundesliga, but don’t get ideas above your station”.

Since then, however, Urs Fischer’s side have strung together a couple of 1-0 victories which gives them hope in their Europa League group and means they are still top of the Bundesliga. Take that, universe!

7. Lorient (🆕)

Do not adjust your sets, that really is Lorient just one point behind PSG at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Sunday’s 2-1 win over Brest was the eighth of the season from Régis Le Bris’s side, and they have a good chance of notching up another one when they take on managerless Reims this weekend.

Long may their good times continue.

6. Benfica (🆕)

Few would have given Benfica much hope of qualifying from their Champions League group but Juventus’ poor form has been Roger Schmidt side’s gain, and their 1-1 draw with PSG in midweek means they are highly likely to be in the draw for the knockouts.

Not only that, but last weekend’s 4-2 win over Rio Ave means they remain top of the Primeira Liga table and are the only side in the division yet to lose this season.

5. Chelsea (🆕)

Chelsea’s decision to dispense with Thomas Tuchel and bring in Graham Potter last month was controversial in some quarters, but after drawing with Salzburg in the new boss’s first game in charge, the Blues are on a four-match winning streak.

Back-to-back Champions League victories over Milan have dispelled any fears of Chelsea not making it out of their group, while their league form has propelled them into the Premier League’s top four.

We’re already bored of the Harry Potter puns, so let’s just say Graham is a cracker.

4. AZ Alkmaar (👍 Last time: 9)

By far the biggest risers in our rankings this week are Alkmaar, who remain top of the Eredivisie table and unbeaten after a 2-1 win over Utrecht at the weekend.

Their modest output of 19 goals in nine games has been bolstered by a miserly defence which has only shipped seven at the other end. A title challenge does not look beyond them at all.

3. Manchester City (👎 Last time: 2)

Despite a 4-0 win over Southampton at the weekend, a 0-0 draw with Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday means City drop one place in our list.

To be fair, Pep Guardiola gave Erling Haaland the night off and Rodri had a brilliant goal controversially disallowed, and City have officially sealed their passage to the last 16, so it’s not all bad news.

2. Arsenal (👍 Last time: 3)

Another big test was thrown Arsenal’s way when they hosted Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday and it was another tick in the ‘Passed’ column for Mikel Arteta’s men.

The Gunners showed resilience to win 3-2 despite twice being pegged back by the visitors, and they remain top of the Premier League table.

There’s a long way to go this season but Arsenal aren’t considered title contenders at this point, then who is?

1. Napoli (No change)

We wrote last week that Napoli are the most in-form and enjoyable team to watch in Europe at the moment and nothing has changed our mind in the seven days since.

A 4-1 win over Cremonese in Serie A was followed up by a 4-2 win over Ajax in the Champions League, and their matches are becoming borderline unmissable.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has the world at his feet, Chucky Lozano keeps chipping in with the goals, and Victor Osimhen is back in business too.

Both domestically and in Europe, Luciano Spalletti’s side could go all the way this year.