Champions League power rankings: PSG still top in matchweek 5
By James Dudko
Champions League power rankings for matchweek 5, featuring Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Chelsea were among the big winners and movers in the Champions League after matchweek 5. By contrast, Manchester United slipped to a disappointing defeat in Switzerland and remain uncertain of qualification ahead of the final group matches.
Elsewhere, there was a stumble for Liverpool, but Tottenham and Manchester City continue to impress. Find out where every member of the top 16 ranks this week:
16. Porto
The 2004 winners escaped Turkey with a point thanks largely to a nervy display from Besiktas. Porto capitalized on their hosts not being sure whether to go for a win or not, knowing they only needed a point to qualify.
A sluggish start from Besiktas was punished when Brazilian defender Felipe scored courtesy of a wonder striker. However, this was as good as it got for Porto, who disappeared in the second half.
The Primeira Liga outfit is still far from certain of qualification ahead of the final group matches. RB Leipzig are level on seven points and will be at home to already qualified Besiktas next time.
Porto face eliminated Monaco at home, but will need to play a lot better to prove they belong in the last 16.
15. Roma
The Italians looked so good against Chelsea last time out, but had no answers for Atletico Madrid’s stubborn defense. Roma struggled in the Spanish capital on a night when usually prolific striker Edin Dzeko couldn’t find space.
Dzeko’s woes were compounded by playmaker Gerson not finding his passing range. Further back, the Roma defense was routinely played through by Los Rojiblancos.
Despite the 2-0 defeat, Roma are still in the box seat to qualify ahead of Atleti. They have a two-point advantage and will face Group C minnows Qarabag next. Meanwhile, Atletico will travel to Chelsea, making the Europa League a likely destination for Antoine Griezmann and Co.
Watch out Arsenal.
14. Shakhtar Donetsk
For all Napoli’s talent, it was still alarming to see how easily they took apart a Shakhtar team experienced in Europe. The Ukrainian powerhouse had no answer for Napoli’s pace, movement and guile during a 3-0 defeat that should have been worse.
It was a clear reminder of the challenges Shakhtar face trying to punch above their weight in this competition. They will host already qualified City next, needing something to make sure of progress, while Napoli will be away to winless Feyenoord.
13. Liverpool
This is the lowest we felt comfortable ranking a group leader. Liverpool top Group E by a single point, but the slender lead can’t mask the familiar defensive frailty they showed on matchday 5.
The Reds went 3-0 up in Seville and still couldn’t win. Their second-half collapse offered the perfect summary of manager Jurgen Klopp’s team. They are thrilling going forward, but built on quicksand at the back.
Klopp believes his players “became passive” in the second half, per Andy Hunter of the Guardian. Yet the real issue is how Liverpool need to continue playing at a million miles an hour even with a big lead.
There is no measured control about Klopp’s team. It’s a dysfunction likely to cost the Reds again as the competition unfolds.
12. Sevilla
Sevilla ensured the gap between them and Liverpool remained just a point after completing a stellar comeback. Frankly, the home side should have been on the scoresheet sooner, only for Wissam Ben Yedder to miss a host of presentable chances.
Fortunately, Ben Yedder made amends in the second half, netting twice, before Guido Pizarro bagged the equalizer in injury time. The fact Sevilla were able to bring Luis Muriel, Franco Vazquez and Joaquin Correa off the bench underlined the strength in depth of this talented squad, one seasoned in the art of tournament football in Europe.
11. Juventus
Juve just about remain on course to qualify from Group D. They are a point ahead of Sporting Lisbon after holding group winners Barcelona to a 0-0 draw in Turin.
The goalless stalemate provided little to write about, save for a reminder of the Bianconeri’s defensive resolve. Familiar names such as Andrea Barzagli and Medhi Benatia stayed solid to preserve a clean sheet.
They also helped to maintain Juve’s fearsome form on home soil in this tournament, per OptaPaolo:
The Old Lady will now hope Barca still play up against Sporting at the Camp Nou, leaving Juve to avoid defeat in Athens against Olympiakos.
10. Basel
Beating United at home was a big enough achievement for Basel. But the 1-0 win courtesy of a late goal from Michael Lang could also see the Swiss side into the next phase.
Basel are now on nine points after Wednesday’s shock result. They are level with CSKA Moscow, who travel to Old Trafford on matchday 6 to face a United still needing to make sure of qualification.
Manager Raphael Wicky will need to get his Basel players to channel the qualities that helped beat the Red Devils when they travel to Benfica knowing qualification is within their grasp.
9. Besiktas
Besiktas may have sealed their historic first passage into the last 16, but the 1-1 home draw with Porto was the least convincing they have looked.
The Turkish side grabbed a point when the dynamic Cenk Tosun created a goal for Anderson Talisca. But there was little else in the way of ingenuity from the hosts, despite the best efforts of veteran wingers Ryan Babel and 34-year-old Ricardo Quaresma.
It’s fair to say Besiktas missed the craft of midfield pass-master Oguzhan Ozyakup.
A team good enough to saunter into the last 16 has instead stumbled through the gate.
8. Manchester United
United’s first dropped points are enough to condemn them to the halfway point of these rankings. The placing is justified based on how turgid the Red Devils were during the second half in Basel.
Manager Jose Mourinho’s side was missing inspiration in midfield with mercurial flair player Henrikh Mkhitaryan again left out of the squad. It didn’t help that striker Romelu Lukaku was anonymous in Switzerland.
United are still a lock to qualify, especially with a home game against CSKA left. But Mourinho’s men are doing little to make the big guns in the tournament nervous.
7. Real Madrid
United may be stuttering, but the holders looked ominously back on form after dismantling APOEL 6-0 in Cyprus. Luka Modric, Nacho and Karim Benzema accounted for a quartet of Los Blancos‘ goals.
Yet the bigger story was Cristiano Ronaldo getting back among the goals. The prolific powerhouse who just loves this tournament bagged a brace and was chiefly responsible for the swagger returning to Real.
Los Merengues still trail Tottenham by two points in Group H and will likely miss out on top spot. However, this gifted group of stars have proved time and again they can win anywhere against any opposition in the tournament.
6. Bayern Munich
It stands to reason Jupp Heynckes would make such an impact for Bayern Munich after returning for a fourth spell in charge. The 72-year-old won the treble with a fantastic Bayern side in 2013.
Heynckes already has the current squad clicking into gear. A 2-1 win in Anderlecht sent Die Roten into the last 16.
The win also ensured a piece of history for Heynckes, per OptaFranz:
Heynckes is succeeding because he’s got Bayern’s big guns firing again. Robert Lewandowski is a prime example after the brilliant No. 9 scored a landmark goal in this calendar year, per Sky Sports Statto:
Bayern won’t beat PSG to top spot in Group B. But Heynckes’ team is still a heavyweight in the competition.
5. Barcelona
What happens when you leave Lionel Messi on the substitutes bench? Well, if you’re Barcelona you fail to score for a second Champions League group match in a row.
Barca drew a blank in Juve one matchweek after drawing 0-0 with Olympiakos. The Blaugrana still won group D, but it’s fair to say they have looked far more impressive in previous years.
Of course, manager Ernesto Valverde likely won’t care about the past. His team is currently leading La Liga and has booked safe passage to the last 16 of the Champions League with room to spare.
It’s all been steady, efficient and business-like stuff from Barca. Usually though, we expect the Camp Nou club to do things with a lot more style.
4. Manchester City
City didn’t win many style points during their 1-0 win at home to Feyenoord. However, Raheem Sterling’s late, late goal did maintain the Manchester club’s relentless form on all fronts.
It’s been a perfect start in Europe with five wins from five in Group F. City also top the Premier League by eight points.
Such form is a testament to manager Pep Guardiola and his ability to fuse forward-thinking flair with the resolve not to get beat. He’ll know City will face tougher tests in the knockout rounds, but for the first time in a long while the squad seems more than capable of handling them.
3. Chelsea
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte isn’t usually associated with free-flowing attacking soccer. But it might be time to revise the impression since the Blues have been quietly turning on the style lately.
They gave United and West Brom lessons in the Premier League, before putting four past Qarabag in Europe. Again, the vision and skill of Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas inspired Conte’s men.
Both players scored, while Willian reminded his manager of his worth with a well-taken double. The presence of Willian and Pedro backing up Fabregas, Hazard and Alvaro Morata emphasizes the enviable depth and quality in attacking areas within this Chelsea squad.
If Conte can coax some big nights out of the defence, the Blues will go far.
2. Tottenham
How did Spurs go from limp rejects in the north London derby to polished winners in Dortmund? The answer, as it turns out, is simple.
Unlike for the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, manager Mauricio Pochettino picked a more attacking lineup for the trip to Dortmund. He wisely ditched the overly defensive duo of Moussa Sissoko and Mousa Dembele in midfield, in favour of astute playmaker Harry Winks.
More importantly, Poch correctly added Son Heung-min in support of Harry Kane up top. Both players scored, with Son bagging the winner to cap a brilliant display, per WhoScored.com:
Seeing off Dortmund 2-1 has left Spurs in a great position to win Group H ahead of Real Madrid. A win over APOEL at Wembley Stadium is all it will take to ensure top spot.
It would be a notable achievement for a side widely expected to struggle again in Europe’s premier club competition.
1. PSG
At this point it would be understandable to have run out of superlatives concerning PSG’s spectacular form during the group stage. It’s better to let the statistics do the talking.
There are plenty of noteworthy numerical plaudits for Les Parisiens after their 7-1 demolition of Celtic. They now own the record for the most prolific group campaign in tournament history, per OptaJean:
The same source will tell you how Neymar has joined elite company in the competition’s annals after yet another superb showing:
Neymar naturally bosses the headlines, but he’s far from the only reason PSG are thriving. Edinson Cavani is also scoring for fun, while Kylian Mbappe remains the most exciting young player on the continent.
Then there is a versatile midfield led superbly by Italy international Marco Verratti and pass-master Adrien Rabiot. This group is tough, resourceful and skilled.
No Champions League team boasts as much quality in as many areas, as well as in reserve, as PSG.