European Football Power Rankings 2022/23–Issue 2(10/22/2022)
Admittedly, I meant to deliver the second issue of my power rankings earlier, ideally 2 weeks after the first one, but here we are. It is October, European competitions only have 2 more matchdays left in the group stages, so let’s see who the top 10 performing football teams in Europe are right now.
10.) STADE RENNAIS FC — France(🆕)
Stade Rennais have been on a roll lately, winning 5 in a row, and undefeated since the 27th of August. Unfortunately a slow start means they are only 5 in Ligue 1, but this sort of form will only propel them up the table if it continues. They are also undefeated in their Europa League group with 3 wins and a draw, having already secured qualification to the knockout rounds. They have scored the second most goals in Ligue 1 and have the second best goal difference. The young strike partnership of Amine Gouiri and Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga has been solid, but the play of wide-man Martin Terrier has been superb. He has 7 goals and 2 assists in 11 league games plus 2 goals and an assist in 3 goals in 4 UEL games. They should expect to continue that fine form against Angers SCO who currently reside in the relegation zone.
9.) CHELSEA FC — England(🆕)
It is understandable much was made of Thomas Tuchel’s sacking. He, after all led the club to their second Champions League after joining the club mid-season about a year and a half ago. He then finished 3rd in the Prem while losing to the eventual champions Real Madrid in the UCL quarter finals last season. That turned out to be his only full season at the club after new owner Todd Boehly came in and Tuchel started the season slowly. While some saw the decision to fire such a proven coach rash, the club is undefeated in the 7 games since Graham Potter took over with 5 wins and 2 draws. High-profile backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga got an extended run in the team due to a combination of bad form and an injury to starter Edouard Mendy and has remained the starter even though the latter is fit now. Aside from his superior ball-playing skills a modern coach like Potter appreciates, Arrizabalaga has genuinely been great between the sticks lately, especially in a recent game vs Aston Villa where he made 7 saves. Chelsea has kept 4 clean sheets in Potter’s 7 games, and also been better going forward. Mason Mount has been in particularly good form under the manager playing in the hole and out wide. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare against Ten Hag’s United, who have also been getting results lately.
8.) ATALANTA BC — Italy(🆕)
After a rocky season last year by their recently high standards in which they missed out on European football, Atalanta is once again finding success. However, it is not by which means they have usually found success in recent seasons. The electric, high-scoring Atalanta is gone, and a more defensively-sound Atalanta is here. The club is still undefeated 10 games in, sitting 2nd in the table with 7 wins and 3 draws. They have ‘only’ scored the 7th most goals, but have conceded the 2nd least, giving them the joint-3rd best goal difference. They have also been without their starting goalkeeper Juan Musso in recent games, and could be without him until December or even the new year. Offensively, new signing and former Leicester forward Ademola Lookman has 4 goals and an assist in 10 games, Teun Koopmeiners has 4 goals and an assist from midfield, and promising 20 year old French wingback Brandon Soppy has 3 assists. They play a hot Lazio side next, who are undefeated in their last 6 games and have also scored the 2nd most goals in the division. The new Atalanta defensive identity will be put to the test.
7.) KRC GENK — Belgium(🆕)
My last power rankings had the Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp on the list, this time around Genk replaces them. It is also Genk who replaced them on top of the Belgian table. They are undefeated after having experienced defeat on their first matchday, racking up 11 wins and a draw in their 12 games since. They lead the league in scoring, and also have the joint 2nd best defense, giving them the best goal difference by a good margin. 23 year old winger Mike Tresor has chipped in 5 goals and 8 assists in their 13 games, and has played 3 games in a row with an assist. Opposite side of him, Joseph Paintsil has contributed 5 goals and 3 assists in just 10 games. They are even getting goal contributions from their right-back, Daniel Muñoz, who has 4 goals and 4 assists. Their next game is against the very Royal Antwerp side they lead by 1 point in the league; it should be a great game.
6.) SL BENFICA — Portugal(-4)
We have now reached the first team to have also featured on my last power rankings. Benfica is still undefeated through 10 league games and 4 UCL games, so it’s not as if they’ve done anything wrong to drop spots, it’s just other teams have overtaken them by doing more things right. Benfica drew both of their games vs the powerful PSG, sending out the message that they are here to stay and compete with the big names. The young and talented double pivot of Enzo Fernandez and Florentino Luis continues to impress and their backline has remained solid as well. A win vs rivals Porto will have them feeling good going into their next game, which is against the struggling Juventus.
5.) PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN FC — France(-2)
Just like Benfica, PSG is also still undefeated, but also fell down the list because draws are dropped points. They have won their two games since their last draw vs Benfica however, one against rivals Marseille, and the latest vs AC Ajaccio. Messi, Neymar, and Messi continue to look sharp and cut up Ligue 1 defenses. They face Maccabi Haifa next, who they should be able to score 3 points against again.
4.) REAL SOCIEDAD DE FÚTBOL — Spain(🆕)
The Basque side is flying at the moment, they are riding 8 consecutive victories and climbed to 3rd in La Liga. They have also won all of their 4 Europa League games. Over their 8 game-winning streak, they have conceded more than 1 goal only once, and kept 4 clean sheets. This group features an interesting mix of experience and young talent with names like David Silva, Illaramendi, Kubo, and plenty more in between like Brais Mendez, and Mikel Merino. Their goal difference and xG data over the season suggests they might not keep up this form(title push), but I still think they are a name to watch as the Europa League progresses.
3.) REAL MADRID CF — Spain(-2)
Los Merengues are yet another undefeated team on this list, yet they too fell down the list(the only way was down from the top spot in all fairness). They dropped points in a draw vs Osasuna, who got a man sent off 12 minutes before the 90th minute, and squeezed out a draw vs Shakhtar Donetsk, courtesy of Antonio Rudiger quite literally taking one(a blow to the head) for the team in stoppage time. However, they did beat their fierce Catalan rivals Barcelona convincingly before getting 3 goals disallowed for offside in a 3–0 win vs Elche. Ancelotti has increasingly used a 4–3–3 with Rodygo ‘on’ the right wing, which really turns into something of a 4–4–2 with Rodygo tucking in and linkup with Benzema and Fede Valverde filling in on the right. At their fluid best, this team is exciting to watch as they rotate, push the ball and create chances for fun. We have also gotten a look at the center-back pairing of Éder Militão and Rüdiger, which has looked very solid. Andriy Lunin was solid working in Courtois’ stead, but it seems the 2018 World Cup Gold Glove winner will return vs Sevilla. A team which has finished top 4 regularly in recent seasons, but has struggled this season and sacked their manager Lopetegui. This team has had a lot to celebrate off the pitch, with star man Karim Benzema picking up the coveted Ballon d’Or, and the aforementioned Courtois taking home the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper; they’ll hope to have more reasons to celebrate on the pitch.
2.) ARSENAL FC — England(+5)
There’s no denying Arsenal are firing on all cylinders anymore. They have won all their games in the league and Europa league this season bar one loss to Manchester United. That is 13 wins from 14 games, a very impressive mark. Whether City will overtake them for the title is anyone’s guess, but so far they have kept on delivering. They will at very minimum be looking to secure the first top 4 finish in the Arteta era, whose project is finally starting to come together. Patience has been the key word for the London club, who have been under pressure and scrutiny through the ups and downs of Arteta’s tenure. Now almost 3 years since he was appointed, they are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We can’t forget this side has the lowest average age of any side in the Prem. Plenty of young names like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Ødegaard and more have been shining. The club surely hopes winning will become a habit and that silverware follows.
1.) SSC NAPOLI — Italy(+8)
What more can you say about Napoli? They have just kept on winning. Undefeated after 14 league and UCL games, they are on an amazing 10 game winning streak. They have scored the most goals in Serie A, and the most goals in the Champions League. Star striker Victor Osimhen is back, and he has 2 goals in two appearances off the bench since coming back. He can be wasteful at times, but his mere presence gives this dangerous attack another dimension. He is fast, tall and makes good predatory movements in opposing penalty boxes. The 21 year old Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has continued to impress as well. with 7 goals and 6 assists in 14 games across the league and UCL from his position on the left wing. Their defense is solid too, with Min-Jae Kim regularly putting in good shifts, and Juan Jesus has filled in well for Amir Rrahmani to pair with Kim. This team is fearless, scoring for fun, and one hopes they can keep the show going as the season progresses. They next play Mourinho’s Roma team which sits just 4 points behind them in 4th place(the Serie A race is looking like it’ll be a good one)
