UCL power rankings: Bayern and Liverpool surge, PSG and Man City drop

The Champions League returns Tuesday as Europe’s best teams reach the group stage’s midway point. Here are the latest power rankings.

The group stage of the Champions League resumes on Tuesday as the best club teams in Europe look to grab a spot into the knockout stage.

The tournament’s eight groups have begun to take shape as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund look to get one step closer to being among the first teams to clinch a spot into the round of 16.

Several storylines have emerged as the group stage reaches the midway point. While Bayern and Dortmund are flying the flag high for Germany, Spanish sides Real Madrid and Barcelona have struggled. As a result, neither appears in our latest top 10.

Liverpool and Chelsea, meanwhile, made the cut this time, while PSG and Manchester City, both of whom are in Group A, have dropped after failing to yet reach their full potential as they prep for their third match of the group stage.

Here’s a look at the latest Champions League power rankings.

10. Atletico Madrid (1-1) 

The only Spanish club to make the rankings, Atleti have consistently shown that they can play at the highest level and this season could be no different.

9. Atalanta (1-1) 

The Italian club remain outsiders to win the UCL, but never count them out for their ability to pull off an upset.

8. Manchester City (1-0-1) 

The Premier League champions have made the UCL a priority, but manager Pep Guardiola’s side have yet to demonstrate, at least until this very early point, that they can contend for the trophy.

7. Chelsea (1-0-1) 

The London club are stacked, especially after the arrival of striker Romelu Lukaku, but repeating as Champions League winners will be a tough task.

6. Paris Saint-Germain (1-1) 

A lineup also stacked with talent, PSG have struggled to gel despite having the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

5. Ajax (2-0) 

The Dutch side, known more for producing talent in recent years than winning at the highest level, have shown they are no pushovers early on.

4. Juventus (2-0) 

After losing Cristiano Ronaldo and getting off to a poor start in Serie A, the Italian club have improved over the past few weeks and it’s shown most of all in the UCL.

3. Borussia Dortmund (2-0) 

The German club, led by striker Erling Harland, have looked competitive in both the UCL and the Bundesliga.

2. Liverpool (2-0) 

The English club have looked strong in the Champions League so far and rarely disappoint in European competition — even when they come up short.

1. Bayern Munich (2-0) 

With striker Robert Lewandowski in top form, the Bavarian club have gotten off to a wonderful start this season and look like serious contenders much like they did back in 2020 when they won the trophy.