📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise | OneFootball

📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise | OneFootball

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Alex Mott·29 February 2024

📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise

Article image:📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise

Three new sides enter the fray in our weekly look at Europe's in-form sides.

But who is top? Let's find out.


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10. Benfica (🆕)

Article image:📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise

Benfica are back on top of the Liga Portugal table after they leapfrogged Sporting this past weekend.

Portimonense were put to the sword as the Lisbon giants won 4-0 thanks to a stunning double from Rafa Silva.

With the Eagles also edging past Toulouse in the Europa League last week, it's been a pretty impressive seven days for Roger Schmidt's side.


9. PSG (👎 Last week: 7)

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PSG's lead at the top of Ligue 1 was cut to 11 points this weekend as the capital club struggled in a 1-1 draw against Rennes.

Luis Enrique's side were far and away the better of the two teams on the night but despite having 15 shots to Rennes' two, needed a 97th-minute penalty to rescue a point at the Parc des Princes.

With Kylian Mbappé's exit now virtually secured, will all that talk between now and the end of the season see a stunning PSG collapse?


8. Barcelona (🆕)

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Whisper it, but Barcelona could very well be back.

The Catalan club went through a mini-crisis earlier in the campaign but seemed to have turned a corner just at the moment Xavi confirmed he was leaving in the summer.

The Blaugrana haven't lost in February with their latest win this past weekend arguably the best of the lot. Getafe have caused good sides a lot of problems this term, but the defending champions swatted them aside with an easy 4-0 win.


7. Bologna (🆕)

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If you haven't been paying attention to the goings on at Bologna this season, it may have slipped your notice that former Inter and Barcelona midfielder Thiago Motta is quietly building one of the best sides in Italy.

The Tuscan side have gone from Serie A also-rans to Champions League contenders this term, winning five games in a row since the middle of January and bothering the top four as a result.

The Rossoblu's latest win came on Friday as they beat Verona 2-0 with midfielder Giovanni Fabbian running the show.


6. Real Madrid (👎 Last week: 5)

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Luka Modrić may have slipped down the pecking order somewhat this season, but the old master still has what it takes to change games for Real Madrid.

The Croatia international did exactly that this past weekend as Sevilla came to the Spanish capital and frustrated the Liga leaders.

It looked for all the world as if Sergio Ramos and his side would frustrate Los Blancos and come away with a hard-fought 0-0 draw, until Modrić rolled back the years with a stunning winner late on.


5. Arsenal (👍 Last week: 6)

Article image:📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise

Champions League defeat aside, Arsenal are riding the crest of a wave at the moment - and standing atop their surfboard of goals is Bukayo Saka.

Saka is enjoying one of the best moments of his career to date with the England international having scored seven goals in his last five Premier League games.

The latest of those came last weekend as the Gunners beat Newcastle 4-1 to keep pace at the top of the Premier League.


4. Bayer Leverkusen ( 👎 Last week: 2)

Article image:📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise

Down two places but more as a victim of circumstance than a condemnation of their recent performances.

Bayer Leverkusen continue to win having just edged past Mainz this past week to maintain their lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

It wasn't all plain-sailing for Xabi Alonso's side as they were pegged back to 1-1 after only seven minutes of the game and then needed a Robert Andrich winner with 20 minutes to go to secure all three points.


3. Man City (No change)

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Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne stole the headlines this past week for Manchester City as the deadly duo put on a clinic at Luton Town.

The Belgian midfielder laid on five goals for the Norwegian sensation as the FA Cup holders strolled to the quarter-finals with a 6-2 win.

With De Bruyne back in full flow and in complete sync with Haaland, expect Pep Guardiola's side to be climbing up this ranking fairly soon.


2. Liverpool (👍 Last week: 4)

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Jürgen Klopp was effusive in his praise post-game calling Liverpool's win over Chelsea in the EFL Cup final "the greatest trophy of my career".

Virgil van Dijk's 119th minute header saw the Reds claim the first piece of silverware in the English football season as they ended their extra time victory with five youth teamers on the pitch.

What was then perhaps more unlikely was the way Liverpool responded on Wednesday as they beat Southampton 3-0 in the FA Cup fifth round.

Jayden Danns was the hero as the teenager scored twice to send his side into the quarter-finals.


1. Inter (No change)

Article image:📈 Power Rankings: Three new entries as Liverpool go on the rise

Inter continue to not just win in Serie A, but completely blow away their opponents.

Since last week's rankings, the Nerazzurri have beaten both Lecce and Atalanta 4-0 to go 12 points clear at the top of the table.

The Lecce victory was arguably par for the course for Simeone Inzaghi's side with the San Siro outfit always expected to beat the potential relegation candidates.

Inter's win over Atalanta though, was something else entirely. Gian Piero Gasperini's men had come into the clash as one of the form teams, not just in Italy, but in all of Europe. And Inter completely decimated them from minute one.

A remarkable week from a remarkable team.