UCL power rankings: Benfica and Chelsea climb as group stage closes out

The Champions League reaches its final matchday this week with a few berths to the knockout stage yet to be determined. Here’s a look at the latest power rankings.    

The final matchday of the Champions League’s group stage with four remaining spots to the round of 16 yet to be decided.

For now, Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Porto and Real Madrid have clinched berths in the round of 16.

The final four spots will be decided on matchday six, which will be played over two days starting Tuesday.

The round of 16 pairings will be made known on Nov. 7. The round will be played after the World Cup and winter break on Feb. 14-15, 2023.

Here are the latest UCL power rankings.

Champions League power rankings entering final Group Stage matches

10. PSG (3-2-0)

The Paris club, led by Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, are tied for first place in Group H (ahead of Benfica on goal differential) and will be looking to get the best of already-eliminated Juventus on Tuesday in the group finale.

9. Real Madrid (3-1-1)

The defending UCL winners lead the charge for Spanish teams at this competition after both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona were officially eliminated during last week’s matchday.

8. Inter Milan (3-1-1)

The defending Serie A champions have shown some moxie in recent weeks and it shows now that the team have locked up second place in Group C.

7. Liverpool (4-0-1)

Poor form domestically doesn’t mean they can’t excel in the UCL. The team got off on the wrong foot in the Champions League, but turned things around following last week’s rout of Ajax in Group A.

6. Club Brugge (3-1-1)

One of the Cinderella sides of the tournament thus far, the Belgian club are in a battle with Porto for first place in Group B. The team will definitely advance, something few would have predicted two months ago.

5. Chelsea (3-1-1)

The London-based club is part of a group of English teams that have seen a resurgence in this tournament the past few weeks. They appear to be a lock to win Group E, setting them up well going into the knockout phase.

4. Benfica (3-2-0)

One of the toughest teams to play in Europe at the moment, the Portuguese club eliminated Juventus and confirmed it is one of the most in-form clubs of the moment.

3. Manchester City (3-2-0)

Pep Guardiola’s team continues to play well and remain among the favorites to win it all. Erling Haaland remains a scoring machine and that could carry Man City far this season.

2. Bayern Munich (5-0)

Only one of two teams that have been perfect thus far in the group stage, the Bavarian giants are riding high thanks to striker Sadio Mane and his four UCL goals.

1. Napoli (5-0)

The Italian side remains No. 1 in the power rankings following last week’s home victory against Glasgow Rangers. Powered by strikers Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone, who both have four goals in this competition, Napoli are the best team in Europe at the moment.