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The Footy Power Rankings - October 17: All hail Diego Costa and the Blues

Reuters

Every Friday, we'll attempt to organize the beautiful, chaotic world that is European football. Taking into consideration both domestic and continental form, strength of schedule and underlying statistics, we'll try to figure out which teams can rightfully claim to be Europe's very best. You'll disagree with most of it, of course, but that's part of the fun.

Note: The totals for goals scored and against include both league and European competitions

1. Chelsea (1st in Premier League)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
6-1-0 1-1-0 23 8

What a difference a proper striker makes. 

With walking corpse Fernando Torres finally on to pastures new, Jose Mourinho is reaping the benefits of shiny new scoring machine Diego Costa. The Spaniard has nine goals (!) in just seven Premier League matches, outscoring seven EPL teams on his own thus far.

As Mike Goodman of Grantland outlines in a thorough breakdown of the striker's surreal start to life in England, Costa is scoring on 40.9 percent of his shots, and hitting the target 72.7 percent of the time. Both numbers are absurd and unsustainable, but there's no reason to think he's going to stop scoring completely this season.

No amount of horse placenta will ever extinguish the possibility that his hamstring may explode at any second, but the way Cesc Fabregas is creating chances this season, Costa's doppelgänger could step in and do just fine.

Oh yeah, the rest of the squad is loaded with talent and depth, too.

2. Barcelona (1st in La Liga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
6-1-0 1-0-1 22 3

Xavi is old, Alexis Sanchez is gone and Pedro is tripping over himself while dribbling, but none of it matters as long as Barcelona can roll out demigod Lionel Messi.

The Argentine superstar may not be the all-action runner he once was, with injuries niggling away at his ability to sprint around the pitch for 90 minutes. Instead, we now get intermittent bursts from the diminutive genius. Is that a problem? Not quite.

His stat sheet through 7 La Liga matches thus far:

  • 6 goals
  • 6 assists
  • 4.14 shots per match
  • 3.6 key passes per match
  • 3.6 successful dribbles per match

Throw in Neymar's 1.82 goals per 90 minutes (an important distinction because he's played significantly less time than most of his peers this year) and Ivan Rakitic looking like he grew up in La Masia, and the Blaugrana are frightening. 

But you knew all that. What you probably didn't know is that €20 million-man Jeremy Mathieu has proven to be a wonderful signing, anchoring a defense that has kept a clean sheet in 8 of its 9 matches this season.

P.S. Luis Suarez is coming, too.

3. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
5-2-0 2-0-0 17 2

Something hasn't seemed quite right about the reigning German champions this season, and yet the team sits atop the Bundesliga without having lost a match, and is perfect after two games in the Champions League.

Franck Ribery, who last year was the third-best player on the planet, has played just 22 minutes this season due to a knee injury. Arjen Robben has been hampered by nagging ailments. Javi Martinez hasn't seen the field as he continues to recover from an ACL tear. Thiago Alcantara's career is sadly starting to resemble that of Giuseppe Rossi. Mehdi Benatia was purchased from Roma for nearly €30 million, and has made just two league appearances. Ordinary teams can't survive like that, never mind thrive.

Pep Guardiola has, at times this year, fielded formations with three fullbacks on the pitch, and not one of them playing their natural position. Xabi Alonso has seen time at centre-back. The Spaniard is whipping up a new concoction every week with his starting XI, and they always seem to taste great.

Bayern is downright scary, and they're only going to get better. Man-for-man, this is the most complete squad in Europe. 

4. Real Madrid (4th in La Liga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
5-0-2 2-0-0 32 11

Iker Casillas is old, Angel di Maria is gone and the midfield lacks even the slightest semblance of balance, but none of it matters as long as Real Madrid can roll out demigod Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wait a minute ...

Ronaldo and his eternal rival Messi are intrinsically connected, yes, but we'll spare you yet another discussion on which star shines brightest. Instead, we'll just say that the Portuguese forward is an absolute freak of nature.

His 15 (!) goals in 8 matches leads all of Europe, as does his three hat-tricks on the season. He's still producing shots at a ridiculous rate (6.8 per match) and has added a playmaking element to his game that some have said he lacks in the past. At this very moment, he's the best player on the planet.

Madridismo.ve's post on Vine

There's only one clear problem for Los Blancos, and it's painfully obvious in the table above. The club is going to humiliate smaller teams all year simply because of its grossly superior talent level. But the concerns over defensive balance, particularly in midfield, are very real, and will be exploited by Europe's big boys. What happens when Real Madrid can't just outscore their opponents on a given day? You get games like their 4-2 loss to Real Sociedad earlier in the season.

Defense wins. It's a cliche, sure. It's also true.

In football terms, 0 (goals against) is greater than 1 (goal scored).

5. Manchester City (2nd in Premier League)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
4-2-1 0-1-1 15 9

The Citizens have yet to find the kind of gear their talent dictates they should be driving around in all season. In terms of quality, Manuel Pellegrini's side can hang with anyone in the world. But the inconsistency of the opening few months suggests that there is a distinct drop-off after the top four teams on this list.

Maybe that changes once Stevan Jovetic returns to help Sergio Aguero, and Yaya Toure goes back to being the all-conquering midfield behemoth we know he can be. But it isn't clicking for Manuel Pellegrini the same way it did last year. 

I appreciate James Milner as much as the next guy, but asking him to do this all season is probably not a good way to win trophies.

Matches against Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Chelsea and Roma have something to do with that slow start, but you would have expected them to win more than just one of those games.

Also, for a team with serious title aspirations in both the Premier League and Champions League, it's a little concerning that one of the most integral players on the roster has been a 36-year-old substitute who's only at the club because he needs to stay fit until the 2015 MLS season begins.

6. Juventus (1st in Serie A)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
6-0-0 1-0-1 15 3

Antonio Conte, who?

The Old Lady hasn't missed a beat since the appointment of the much-maligned Massimiliano Allegri, conceding just three goals in eight matches this season.

The reliance on Carlos Tevez - who has scored 53 percent of the team's goals in all competitions - is concerning, particularly since Fernando Llorente has been utterly useless early in the year. That said, Alvaro Morata continues to grow accustomed to his new team, and when he returns from suspension, should continue on his path towards a starting spot alongside Tevez in Juventus' 3-5-2 formation.

In midfield, majestic playmaker Andrea Pirlo has made just one appearance due to injury, and Arturo Vidal is still working to achieve 100 percent fitness. Yet the team looks capable of doing something that fans lamented as a major problem under Conte: not just win, but dominate.

Here's dominance personified, from a match against Cesena last month:

Before you ask, the final score was 3-0.

7. Atletico Madrid (5th in La Liga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
4-2-1 1-0-1 15 10

The winds of change blew through the Vicente Calderon this summer, and the impact is still being felt over a month into the season.

Mario Mandzukic is not Diego Costa, Miguel Angel Moya pales in comparison to Thibaut Courtois, and neither Cristian Ansaldi nor Guilherme Siqueira have been able to replicate the form of Filipe Luis early in the year.

And yet, two poor performances against Olympiacos and Valencia aside, Atletico are still chugging along with all the gusto and feistiness we've come to expect from Diego Simeone's team. Things should only get better as Antoine Griezmann and Alessio Cerci get accustomed to life at the new club, and captain Gabi (hopefully) regains the form of last year.

Atletico probably shouldn't be expected to defend last season's miraculous league title, but this is still one of the very best teams on the continent - as evidenced by wins over Real Madrid and Juventus.

Almoj Alazra8's post on Vine

8. Roma (2nd in Serie A)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
5-0-1 1-1-0 17 6

A popular hipster pick heading into the new season thanks to some very shrewd work in the transfer market, Roma has delivered some of the most scintillating football on the continent.

The lightning-quick duo of Gervinho and Juan Iturbe has terrorized defenses playing wide of club legend Francesco Totti, who continues to defy his birth certificate. A controversial loss to Juventus is the only blip in a run of results that includes a wildly impressive 1-1 draw at the Etihad against Manchester City last month - and that was accomplished with at least four first-team players out of the lineup.

Kevin Strootman hasn't played a game this year as he recovers from knee surgery, and Daniele De Rossi is also out injured. That should be a big problem. It isn't, because Radja Nainggolan has been an absolute animal.

9. Marseille (1st in Ligue 1)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
7-1-1 - 23 8

Marcelo Bielsa is erratic as they come, and he may be a PR nightmare, but you simply can't argue with his results since assuming control of the French side.

The club is five points clear at the top of the league table, and have played some thrilling football along the way - not the least of which coming in a 5-0 win over Reims (who are, admittedly, not good). 

After conceding 5 goals in their opening two matches (a draw and a loss), Marseille has ripped off seven consecutive wins, outscoring opponents 20-3 in the process. Andre-Pierre Gignac and his league-leading nine goals have been a massive part of that. The striker, berated incessantly about his weight over the years, is going to celebrate by eating all the damn Whoppers he wants, and there's nothing you can do about it.

The real litmus tests are on the horizon with matches against Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux to come in the next few weeks. 

10. Paris Saint-Germain (3rd in Ligue 1)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
3-6-0 1-1-0 19 9

A thrilling 3-2 victory over Barcelona is the highlight of the season thus far, but one game doesn't undo the slog that has been PSG's campaign.

Five of their last seven matches have ended in 1-1 draws, including the most recent contest against Monaco, in which Laurent Blanc's side was pegged back by an injury-time equalizer from Anthony Martial.

Without the 5-0 win over Saint-Etienne from late August - an apparent outlier that was inspired by a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick - PSG has just 10 goals in 8 league matches. For a team with so much attacking talent, that's a major concern. Granted, the Swedish mastermind has missed the last month with a heel injury, but that's why the Parisian side splashed €64 million on Edinson Cavani last summer. 

How's your French?

"The man who wasn't worth €64 million" is a fitting headline to describe the club's season so far.

11. Valencia (2nd in La Liga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
5-2-0 - 17 4

There is renewed optimism at the Mestalla, and never was it more apparent than in the breathtaking 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid earlier this month. With Diego Simeone at the helm, Atletico never look rattled in the slightest. And yet, they were made to look completely out of sorts by Los Che, who are off to a flying start under new manager Nuno.

Unprecedented changeover this summer should have made for a sluggish opening to the campaign. It didn't. Not having their most exciting signing (Alvaro Negredo) in the lineup as of yet should have hampered them. It hasn't.

A team crippled by financial difficulties has a new lease on life, and are quickly becoming must-see television, thanks largely to the new manager.

“The midfielders always pressure,” Nuno said after the win over Atletico. “I want the team to always attack.”

There's still room on the bandwagon. Hop on now, or get left behind.

12. Southampton (3rd in Premier League)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
4-1-2 - 11 5

The death of the Saints was grossly exaggerated this summer after Liverpool - and friends - brought their wallet and shopping cart to St. Mary's.

Replacements came in, but the questions remained. Could the club replicate the unprecedented success of last season? So far, so good (albeit with a relatively favorable schedule).

Graziano Pelle, he of the perfect hair and stunning bicycle kicks, has settled in instantly with four goals, while his partner-in-crime Dusan Tadic is on the fast-track to becoming one of the most potent playmakers in the Premier League.

(Courtesy: Daily Mail)

Seriously, would you be able to defend that? You're lost in those eyes already. Let me save you the trouble of searching: no, not a single hair is out of place. Ever.

Once Sadio Mane finds his feet and stops missing tap-ins from inside the six-yard box, Ronald Koeman will be laughing.

13. Manchester United (4th in Premier League)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
3-2-2 - 13 10

Defender this, defender that, defender something or other. All the talk surrounding Manchester United following the closure of the transfer window focused on their woefully thin back-line that would concede goals at a rate sure to eventually give Louis van Gaal a heart attack.

That train of thought is still accurate to some extent, but perhaps we all undervalued just how devastating this team can be when all the expensive horses start galloping together. Radamel Falcao has, surprisingly, added a playmaking element to his game since arriving at Old Trafford. Robin van Persie is on the decline, but he's not quite done yet. Wayne Rooney, despite the tidal waves of criticism constantly crashing down on him, is third on the all-time EPL scoring chart for a reason. Ander Herrera has quietly been brilliant in midfield.

And of course, there's the piece de resistance: Angel di Maria.

The Argentine is doing his best to break the monopoly of Messi and Ronaldo in the Ballon d'Or voting this year, scoring three goals and creating chances at a rate that has only been matched, somehow, by Joey Barton. I don't want to sit here and tell Real Madrid how to run their business, but yeah, letting him go was stupid.

Wayne, what's it like having all these talented players around you?

vonstrenginho's post on Vine

The Red Devils have benefitted from one of the softest schedules in the Premier League, and the added bonus of no midweek European matches, but while the fixtures will get more difficult, the team will simultaneously continue to grow and improve.  

14. Arsenal (8th in Premier League)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
2-4-1 1-0-1 15 12

Just barely squeezing into our inaugural list. Isn't that all too perfect?

There was legitimate excitement coming into the season for Gooners who thought this could be the year. Mesut Ozil had a full campaign under his belt, Danny Welbeck would thrive in his natural role as a striker, Aaron Ramsey was healthy and Alexis Sanchez would provide that star power needed to take the team over the top.

Seven games into the season and that optimism is, for the most part, dead. Relying on Mathieu Flamini to play a significant role will do that to you.

In fairness to the oft-criticized Arsene Wenger, injuries have ravaged an exciting group of players that, when healthy, are a joy to watch. It happens every year for the Frenchman, so it's no wonder he's starting to get frustrated.

15. Borussia Dortmund (13th in Bundesliga)

League Record European Record Goals Scored Goals Against
2-1-4 2-0-0 14 12

Speaking of being tormented by injuries, here's Borussia Dortmund's report from the infirmary this season:

  • Marco Reus (ankle)
  • Marcel Schmelzer (hand)
  • Ilkay Gundogan (back)
  • Henrikh Mkhitaryan (foot)
  • Nuri Sahin (knee)
  • Mats Hummels (muscular problem)
  • Sebastian Kehl (groin)

You try taking that many starters out of your lineup, and see how things go. Dortmund will be just fine, as evidenced by their trouncing of both Arsenal and Anderlecht in the Champions League.

Go on, tell me more about how they don't deserve to be on the list:

Jurgen Klopp is still the manager, and that alone is worth plenty.

On the cusp

Liverpool, Sevilla, FC Porto, PSV Eindhoven, Bayer Leverkusen

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