Power Rankings: The best teams in Europe - Week 13

Following a couple of weeks in which:

- Inter won some silverware thanks to a last minute goal.

- Real Madrid won a game against Almeria thanks to some extraordinarily contentious VAR decisions.

- Manchester City won a game against Newcastle United thanks to the return of the best midfielder in the world.

We at 90min are back to rank the best football teams in Europe once again.

On the watchlist

Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur

For the first time this season, Chelsea are in contention to be in the power rankings. That in itself is gigantic progress for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

The Blues have clearly improved in recent weeks, winning three on the bounce in the Premier League and booking a place in the Carabao Cup final.

One of Pochettino's former clubs, Tottenham Hotspur, are also catching the eye. With their star players slowly returning from injury, expect them to be in the power rankings once again very soon.

Axed this week

Bologna, PSV Eindhoven, Bayern Munich, Arsenal

Ok, there's quite a few so let's take them one-by-one.

Bologna: Since they beat Inter their form has fallen off a cliff, and they're now without a win in their last four games.

PSV Eindhoven: The team who won every single league game so far this season finally didn't win a league game this past week, drawing with Utrecht and then losing to Feyenoord in the KNVB Cup.

Bayern Munich: They signed Harry Kane and yet, somehow, still aren't top of the Bundesliga due to silly defeats to Eintracht Frankfurt and Werder Bremen either side of Christmas.

Arsenal: They couldn't buy a goal for about a month.

The 10 current best teams in Europe

10. AC Milan (new entry)

Following a rather so-so start to the season, AC Milan have finally found their groove in recent weeks.

Their six wins on the trot have seen them rise up to third in the Serie A table, and looking set to rather comfortably quality for the UEFA Champions League again next season.

9. Real Madrid (down 5)

Down five this week largely thanks to being knocked out of the Copa del Rey by arch rivals Atletico Madrid (who'll we talk about very soon).

The win over Almeria didn't do too much to stop their slide down the rankings either, they needed a lot of help to get over the line against a team who haven't won a single game of football this season.

8. Atletico Madrid (re-entry)

As mentioned, Atleti famously knocked their Madrid rivals out of the Copa del Rey recently, and that win came thanks to their new all-time top goalscorer Antoine Griezmann.

The France forward is still one of the very best footballers around. Give the man his flowers, he's earned them.

7. Aston Villa (down 6)

After a stunning first half of the 2023/24 season, Aston Villa's form has noticeably dipped recently.

The Villans are still in top four contention, but the draw with Everton and defeat to Manchester United seriously dented their Premier League title aspirations.

6. Juventus (re-entry)

Now 18 games unbeaten, and having reeled off seven impressive wins on the spin, it's time to officially say it: Juventus are back to their best.

A lot of that form has been down to the wonderful performances of their watertight back three, but let's also give kudus to the recent form of Dusan Vlahovic too.

The Serbian has been scoring goals for fun in 2024, netting five in five already.

5. Manchester City (re-entry)

If Kevin De Bruyne's cameo appearance against Newcastle United is anything to go by, then Manchester City are going to be as scary as ever in 2024.

The midfielder ran the show upon his return from injury, and if he can stay fit his team will be favourites to win every single game and every single trophy available throughout the rest of the season.

4. Inter (up 6)

Speaking of trophies, Inter won on this past week.

Their dramatic win over SSC Napoli, courtesy of a last minute strike from Lautaro Martinez (who else?), secured the Supercoppa Italiana for I Nerazzurri.

If their recent form in the league and on the continent is anything to go by, it won't be the last trophy they win this season either.

3. Girona (-)

It's late January and Girona are still top of La Liga.

And they are top of La Liga because they're actually just really bloody good.

Their 5-1 win over Sevilla on Sunday evening was even more proof of that.

2. Liverpool (up 5)

Cup final? Check. Top of the Premier League? Check.

Things are going quite well for Liverpool at the moment.

Jurgen Klopp's side are scoring goals for fun, and not conceding too many at the end either thanks to the brilliance of Virgil van Dijk. That is how you win games of football...if you didn't know already.

1. Bayer Leverkusen (-)

According to their Wikipedia page, Bayer Leverkusen have already won the 2023/24 Bundesliga title.

And while they haven't actually won it yet (it's January), they're certainly on their way to.

Leverkusen are now four points clear atop of the Bundesliga table thanks to their remarkable unbeaten first half of the season.

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