📈 Power Rankings: Four new clubs and new leaders to start 2023! | OneFootball

Right then, where were we?

With German football yet to return, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig drop out for now, while Benfica’s 3-0 defeat to Braga sees them lose their place too and it’s au revoir to PSG after a rocky return.

So who makes the top 10 or the first time in 2023?

10. Barcelona (👎 Last time: 8)

Barcelona have not had the return to action they would have been dreaming off. A feisty derby with Espanyol ended in a draw for the LaLiga leaders before they needed extra-time to beat third tier Intercity in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

They are still, though, LaLiga leaders and a trip to Atlético Madrid at the weekend is a perfect chance to set things straight.

9. Marseille (🆕)

Picking up where they left off with two wins, Marseille have won four in a row now and sit third in Ligue 1.

Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares scored in the 6-1 win over Toulouse and again in the 2-1 win over Montpellier before seeing red in that match. It’s never dull with the Portuguese in action.

8. Inter (🆕)

Serie A highlights available in UK and Ireland only

Cat. Pigeons.

Inter became the first team to beat Napoli this season as Serie A returned on Wednesday, with Edin Džeko scoring the only goal. The big win they needed to kickstart a title chase? Time will tell, but so-called inconsistent Inter have now won seven of their last eight in the league.

7. Lens (🆕)

Sitting second in Ligue 1 usually means staring into the distance to see how far away PSG are. But not for Lens right now.

The team with the best defensive record in the league, they are just four points behind after stunning PSG 3-1 last weekend.

6. Manchester City (👍 Last time: 10)

On the rise after a draw with Everton? Well, Manchester City have also beaten Liverpool and Leeds since returning to action.

Win at Chelsea on Thursday night and they’ve not even lost ground in the Premier League title race since this time a week ago. There’s no crisis at the Etihad.

5. Newcastle United (👎 Last time: 4)

A couple of draws defined Newcastle’s week. One, against Leeds, was a disappointment after their flying start to the season. But it was no indication of a balloon bursting as they followed it up by keeping Arsenal to a goalless draw in midweek.

That performance put to bed any doubts that they belong at the top end of the table.

4. Napoli (👎 Last time: 1)

Serie A highlights available in UK and Ireland only

A first defeat of the season is not how Napoli would’ve wanted to return to action.

But they remain top of the table, so it’s not all bad, right?

3. Juventus (👍 Last time: 9)

Serie A highlights available in UK and Ireland only

Seven Serie A wins in a row. Seven clean sheets in a row.

Juventus didn’t entirely convince against struggling Cremonese but they did enough and the gap to Napoli is now just — you guessed it — seven points.

2. Manchester United (🆕)

From nowhere to second, just like that? You bet!

Manchester United have won three Premier League matches in a row and an EFL Cup match to boot since club football returned. A title race outsider? It’s too soon to tell, but they’re looking good.

1. Arsenal (👍 Last time: 5)

That draw against Newcastle was a setback but Arsenal remain top of the league and are eight points clear at the time of writing.

With Napoli slipping up, it’s Arsenal turn to take the poisoned chalice.