We have a new leader! In the latest edition of Shaka Hislop’s Power Rankings, a giant of German football takes the top spot.
1. Bayern Munich (+1)
A straightforward week saw Bayern maintain their 100 percent winning record atop the Bundesliga. Ingolstadt and Hertha Berlin were seen off, 3-1 and 3-0 respectively, with six different players getting on the score sheet for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
2. Manchester City (+1)
That’s nine wins out of nine in all competitions for Man City, who beat Bournemouth 4-0 in league play before winning 2-1 at Swansea in the EFL Cup. The latter win set up a mouthwatering fourth-round draw against crosstown rivals United.
3. Real Madrid (-2)
You might have thought that Madrid would struggle more without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but the opposite happened last week. After their stars missed a 2-0 win at Espanyol, Madrid welcomed both back only to draw with Villarreal.
4. Borussia Dortmund (+5)
Since losing at Leipzig on Sept. 10, Dortmund have won three straight games in all competitions, scoring — wait for it — 17 goals in the process. Most recently, BVB thrashed Darmstadt 6-0 at home before winning 5-1 on the road at Wolfsburg.
5. Barcelona (no change)
It was very much a week of two halves for Barca, who cruised past Leganes before being held at home by Atletico Madrid. Perhaps of greater concern than two dropped points, though, was another groin injury suffered by Lionel Messi.
6. Atletico Madrid (new)
After a 5-0 thumping of Sporting at the weekend, Atletico came from behind to earn a valuable point at Barcelona. Diego Simeone’s side started the season slowly but nonetheless remain unbeaten in all competitions.
7. Cologne (new)
Well, well, who’s this splitting Bayern and Dortmund in the German standings? Cologne are currently second after taking 10 points from their opening four games. Their most recent win was especially impressive: A 3-1 triumph at Schalke.
8. Juventus (-4)
They’re top in Italy but Juventus might not have it all their own way this season if Sunday’s Derby d’Italia, in which Inter came from behind to win 2-1, is anything to go by. Juve got back to winning ways in midweek by beating Cagliari 4-0.
9. Napoli (-3)
Arkadiusz Milik scored two more goals in a 3-1 win over Bologna, but was then denied in a goalless draw at Genoa. Napoli are the only remaining unbeaten side in Serie A, though, and sit just one point behind Juventus in second place.
10. Feyenoord (new)
What a start to the season for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team! Feyenoord are top of the Eredivisie having won all six of their games so far — the most recent being a 1-0 win at rivals PSV — and, of course, also beat Man United in the Europa League.
Dropping out: Sevilla, Sporting CP, Chelsea.