📈 Power Rankings: Barcelona bounce back, Napoli new entrants | OneFootball

Thursday’s Power Rankings are back after another week of action across European football’s top leagues.

Here are the 10 sides in our updated Power Rankings table.

📈 Power Rankings: Chelsea enter, new leaders

10. Benfica (No change)

Benfica retain their place in the Power Rankings table, despite not featuring in Primeira Liga action over the weekend. Bruno Lage’s side will feel the international break arrived at the wrong time, having racked up five consecutive wins in all competitions.

The most recent was a 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, a statement result to maintain their perfect start in Europe this season.

9. PSV Eindhoven (No change)

Having eased to Eredivisie title success last season, PSV Eindhoven have begun their defence in ominous mood. It’s eight wins from eight for Peter Bosz and his side, who came from behind to beat Sparta Rotterdam at the weekend.

It was not the most convincing performance of the campaign but an important three points for PSV, who were reduced to 10 men early in the second half after Matteo Dams’ red card.

8. Monaco (🆕)

Monaco enter our Power Rankings after emerging as the pacesetters in Ligue 1. Goals from Thilo Kehrer and Folarin Balogun led the principality club to a 2-1 win at Rennes at the weekend, capitalising on a slip from Paris Saint-Germain to open up a two-point lead at the top.

Still unbeaten, Monaco boast the league’s best defensive record with just four conceded from seven games.

7. Napoli (🆕)

Antonio Conte is a serial winner and has wasted little time in making an impact at Napoli. With a revitalised Scott McTominay marauding around midfield and long-term ally Romelu Lukaku finding form in attack, Napoli are the league leaders in Italy heading into the international break.

After a disastrous defence of their title ended in a 10th-place finish last season, Conte has Gli Azzurri firing again.

6. Bayern Munich (No change)

Bayern Munich sit sixth after a barnstorming Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. Vincent Kompany’s side again showed their firepower at The Waldstadion, but dropped early points in the title race after a 3-3 draw.

Despite Bayern twice leading in the clash, the in-form Omar Marmoush netted a 94th-minute leveller for the hosts to snatch Frankfurt a share of the spoils.

5. Sporting Lisbon (👎 Last week: 3)

It seems harsh dropping Sporting given their immaculate start in Portugal.

Ruben Amorim’s team have a perfect record of eight wins from eight Primeira Liga games, after a comfortable home win over Casa Pia at the weekend.

Daniel Branganca opened the scoring before Vitor Gyokeres scored a second from the spot with his 11th league goal in eight games. It was a routine win for the champions, who boasted 82% of the possession at the Estádio José Alvalade.

4. Manchester City (👍 Last week: 5)

Manchester City overcame a potential banana skin after beating Fulham 3-2.

Mateo Kovacic has been tasked with replacing Rodri at the base of the midfield, though the Croatian did his best Erling Haaland impression with a match-winning brace.

Vulnerabilities defensively will concern with Adama Traore a real (if wasteful) threat, as Fulham created a higher xG than the champions at the Etihad. Guardiola, no doubt, will be working on a solution.

3. Barcelona (👍 Last week: 4)

Barcelona bounced back from losing their La Liga unbeaten record last weekend, cruising to a 3-0 win at Alaves with the evergreen Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat-trick.

The Poland international has rediscovered his finest form under ex-Bayern boss Hansi Flick and leads the race for the Pichichi Trophy with 10 goals in nine games. At 36, he’s showing few signs of slowing down.

2. Liverpool (No change)

Liverpool lead the Premier League heading into October’s international break.

Arne Slot has had the best-ever start by a Liverpool manager, having won nine of his first 10 games across all competitions. The Dutchman’s latest was a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace, with Diogo Jota’s early goal the difference between the sides. It wasn’t overly convincing, but perhaps that’s the mark of a good side.

1. Arsenal (No change)

Arsenal maintain their place as Power Rankings leaders after beating Southampton 3-1 at the Emirates.

Despite falling behind to Cameron Archer’s goal, the Gunners levelled almost instantly through Kai Havertz. Gabriel Martinelli got a second off the bench before Bukayo Saka added to his two assists with a third. The latter now has seven assists from seven games, with only two players having ever managed more at this stage of a Premier League season.

Read – The players with the most assists in Premier League history after seven matches

See more – Iconic Performances: Beckham’s Greece goal earns England redemption

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