When Xabi Alonso’s game-winner for Liverpool on Sunday went in, it didn’t just move Liverpool into sole possession of first place in the English Premier League. It also catapulted the Reds into the No. 1 spot in the SBI European Club Top 25.
There is little arguing Liverpool’s claim. Going unbeaten in EPL and Champions League play through October is impressive enough, and there is little reason to believe Rafa Benitez’s boys will give up the spot any time soon.
If there is one team that looks better in recent weeks than Liverpool, it is red-hot Barcelona, which is shredding opponents with scary ease. While Barca does have a La Liga loss, Lionel Messi’s boys are also the only team in the Champions League with a perfect 3-0 mark. Also, outscoring their past four opponents 17-2 is enough to take Barcelona seriously again as a multi-cup contender.
The top of the rankings wasn’t the only area shaken up last week. You saw Juventus storm back into the top 25 after beating Real Madrid and Torino last week. You also saw Dynamo Kiev take its rightful place in the rankings after staying unbeaten in Champions League play while continuing to dominate the Ukraine League. You also saw TSG Hoffeinhem manhandle Hamburg to take over first place in the German Bundesliga. Lastly, you saw several teams tumble out of the Top 25, including CFR Cluj, Lazio and Olympiakos.
Here is how this week’s SBI European Club Top 25 shook out:
SBI European Club Top 25
1. LIVERPOOL (7-0-2 league record)
2. BARCELONA (6-1-1)
3. VILLARREAL (5-0-3)
4. CHELSEA (6-1-2 )
5. AC MILAN (5-2-2)
6. REAL MADRID (6-1-1)
7. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-1-3)
8. INTER MILAN (5-1-2)
9. VALENCIA (6-0-2)
10. ARSENAL (6-2-1)
- 11. Napoli (5-1-2)
- 12. Udinese (5-1-2)
- 13. Sevilla (5-1-2)
- 14. Aston Villa (5-2-2)
- 15. Juventus (3-2-3)
- 16. Lyon (6-1-3)
- 17. Dinamo Kiev (10-1-1)
- 18. Standard Liege (6-1-2)
- 19. TSG Hoffenheim (6-2-1)
- 20. Bordeaux (6-2-3)
- 21. FK Rubin Kazan (17-3-6)
- 22. CSKA Moscow (13-4-8)
- 23. Hull City (6-1-2)
- 24. Bayern Munich (4-2-3)
- 25. Fiorentina (5-2-1)
Others Receiving Consideration: Atletico Madrid (3-4-1), Bayer Leverkusen (6-3), Hamburg (5-1-3), Benfica (3-0-3), CFR Cluj (5-3-4), Lazio (4-3-1), Marseille (5-1-4), Sporting Lisbon (3-2-1), NAC Breda (5-1-1), Celtic (8-1-1).
So why did the tumblers tumble? Cluj’s Champions League loss to Bordeaux wasn’t the reason as much as its follow up domestic defeat was. Lazio was the victim of the numbers game as six other Serie A teams made the cut. I wasn’t totally sold on Olympiakos either so its first domestic defeat was enough to send them off the radar screen for now.
I did make one adjustment after posting, which was to move Bayern Munich in and drop Hamburg. Bayern has been very mediocre this year before last week, but the 3-0 Champions League win vs. Fiorentina coupled with recent hot streak moves them in.
I will look to update this same post with some schedule information for the upcoming week and weekend so stay tuned for that.
What do you think of this week’s rankings? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.