Champions League Power Rankings: PSG shine in matchweek 1
By James Dudko
Power rankings for the first week of the 2017-18 Champions League, featuring Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain showed why they are among the favorites to win the 2017-18 Champions League. All three enjoyed commanding wins in matchweek 1, with Barcelona particularly impressive in dismantling last season’s beaten finalists Juventus 3-0 at the Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, Premier League duo Manchester United and Chelsea enjoyed winning returns to Europe’s top table. Both eased through the gears to comfortably see off Basel and Qarabag, respectively.
Yet no team laid down a marker quite like PSG. The mega-rich Ligue 1 outfit unleashed their star-studded front three on a hapless Celtic in Glasgow.
Read on the for the full rankings of all 32 teams after matchweek 1:
32. Qarabag
No team other than the champions of Azerbaijan could prop up the rankings after the way they wilted at Chelsea. Qarabag were hammered 6-0 by a refreshed starting XI for the Blues.
Fringe players such as striker Michy Batshuayi and right-back Davide Zappacosta simply proved too much for the over-awed visitors to Stamford Bridge. Both Batshuayi and Zappacosta scored, as did Pedro, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesar Azpilicueta.
Chelsea were barely troubled all night by a side lacking in guile at the top level. There were some hints of quality, though, particularly from Brazilian playmaker Pedro Henrique.
However, remaining rooted to the bottom of Group C looks inevitable for Qarabag.