📈 Power Rankings: Two new entries as 2022 begins with a bang | OneFootball

Not every team in Europe has been in action since their winter breaks but there’s been just about enough football for us to relaunch the Power Rankings.

Who keeps their spot?

10. FC Porto (🆕)

Welcome to Porto, who had a fantastic Christmas. They beat bitter rivals Benfica 3-0 in the cup on the 23 December and then beat them again 3-1 in the league on the 30th.

Still undefeated in the league, having won 11 in a row, Porto have scored 41 in 16 Primeira Liga outings, conceding just nine. They might just be Europa League favourites.

9. Arsenal (🆕)

Arsenal have climbed into the top four and remain there as we head through January. The Gunners battered Norwich on Boxing Day and, though they lost at the death, began 2022 with their best big game performance for years against the juggernaut that is Manchester City.

They’d won four in a row before that 2-1 defeat, which came when down to 10 men. Only Liverpool and Man City have won more Premier League points since the Gunners lost at Anfield six weeks ago.

8. Liverpool (👎 Last week: 5)

A bleak Christmas for Liverpool, who lost at Leicester, then lost Jürgen Klopp and some key players to coronavirus infections before they conspired to draw from 2-0 up at Chelsea at the weekend.

That’s the title race all but over and the Reds now face going through the next few weeks without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, who have headed off to the African Cup of Nations.

7. Sevilla (🆕)

Sevilla sit just five points behind Real Madrid with a game in hand. LaLiga may just have a title race yet.

Julen Lopetegui’s men picked up 2022 where they left off in 2021: with a win. They’ve now won four of their last five in LaLiga and drew with 10 men against Barcelona in the other game. Not bad going.

6. Real Madrid (👎 Last week: 4)

A coronavirus outbreak struck over the festive period and Madrid returned to action with a defeat to Getafe at the weekend.

They had to work to beat third tier CD Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday and the pressure is now on to maintain their lead at the top of the league table.

5. Juventus (👍 Last week: 6)

Juventus benefit from Madrid’s results and rise in our rankings despite not kicking a ball. They’re next in action against Napoli on Thursday.

Juve ended 2021 winning five of their last six in all competitions, including four of five in Serie A. They sit a long way behind league leaders Inter but have Milan, Napoli and Atalanta in their sights now.

4. Inter (👎 Last week: 3)

As Juventus benefit from not playing, Inter take a small hit, dropping courtesy of (spoiler alert!) Chelsea having a good week.

Inter are miles clear at the top of Serie A, where they’ve won seven in a row, and enter the year as big favourites to retain their title.

3. Chelsea (👍 Last week: 7)

A mixed festive period — Chelsea beat Aston Villa but drew with Brighton — ended brightly with a strong start to the year. The Blues were in danger of being blown away by Liverpool at the weekend but recovered from 2-0 down to draw.

This week has been even better as they dominated Tottenham to take control of their EFL Cup semi-final with their London rivals with 90 minutes still to play next week. Chelsea aren’t losing games but they are drawing too often and will want to turn dominance into clear chances more consistently in 2022.

2. Bayern Munich (No change)

Bayern haven’t played since the last one but Chelsea haven’t done enough to usurp them.

Unlike Inter, Bayern have been totally dominant in Europe as well as their domestic league this season.

1. Manchester City (No change)

New year, same City. Pep Guardiola’s side have played three, won three since Christmas and have now won 11 Premier League games in a row.

There’s not much more to add.