The Footy Power Rankings - December 9: Real Madrid leapfrogs Bayern for top spot

Every week, 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.

We're back after a brief hiatus. There's plenty to catch up on, and plenty of movement in the table, starting right at the top.

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

1. Real Madrid (1st in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 2nd

If you remember, at the beginning of the season I outlined my concern over Real Madrid's ability to balance its ridiculous wealth of attacking talent with the need to shield a back-four that, if exposed, would struggle. Based on that analysis, it's pretty clear I'm an idiot.

All Carlo Ancelotti's side has done since the beginning of the season is beat opposing teams into a fine pulp, scoring 63 goals in 19 matches for an average of 3.3 goals per match. 

They've won 18 consecutive contests since losing to Atletico Madrid in mid-September - which seems like eons ago. Cristiano Ronaldo has 27 goals and nine assists this season in 18 matches. I'll just leave that line there.

They've answered my admittedly stupid initial question. Real Madrid is the best team on the planet right now.

2. Bayern Munich (1st in Bundesliga)

Previous Rank: 1st

It's not you, it's them.

Bayern Munich, still a juggernaut of the most dominant kind (see numbers in table above) drop one place more on the merits of Real Madrid than any failing of their own. 

The one blip on their radar since we last convened in this space, a 3-2 loss to Manchester City in the Champions League, was one of the strangest matches you will see. The German side dominated proceedings despite being a man down, and only lost when two (literally) unbelievable mistakes gifted City a pair of late goals.

It was an outlier, to be sure. Xabi Alonso, whose horrendous pass gift-wrapped the tying goal for the English side, simply doesn't make those errors. It feels like blasphemy even to call him out on it. 

That's Bayern's only loss of the campaign, and accounted for nearly 50 percent of all goals conceded this season. Yeah, they're fine.

3. Chelsea (1st in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 3rd

How quickly things change...

The Vincibles! (Sorry).

Chelsea lost their first match of the season over the weekend, falling behind 2-0 at Newcastle and seeing their frantic comeback attempt, fuelled by Didier Drogba's classic header, come up just short.

Jose Mourinho, so clever in his satirical post-match comments - which have become a thing of legend - wasn't in his best form following the loss as he criticized Newcastle's defensive tactics.

“You may as well put a cow in the middle of the pitch, walking," he said. "And then stop the game because there was a cow."

The loss, coupled with a goalless draw against Sunderland in late November, is throwing the Portuguese bench boss off his game. Something's not quite right, much like Chelsea itself.

The team's vaunted attack, a Belgian Blue Bull all season long, has looked like a calf in recent Premier League contests. (Sorry again).

4. Barcelona (2nd in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 4th

Andres Iniesta is back, Luis Suarez continues to grow into his new role as more of a provider, and Lionel Messi continues to do Lionel Messi-like things to anyone foolish enough to stand in his way.

That curve is just silly.

Barcelona has won five consecutive matches since we last spoke, scoring 19 goals and conceding only two in that span - including victories over Sevilla, Valencia and city rivals Espanyol. By no means cupcakes.

Keep an eye on your rearview mirror, Chelsea.

5. Atletico Madrid (3rd in La Liga)

Previous Rank: 6th

You would think holding off Barcelona and Real Madrid for the La Liga title, and then coming within seconds of defeating their city rivals in the Champions League final, would ensure that Atletico would not fly under the radar this season.

You would be wrong. Somehow, Diego Simeone's side continues to get little recognition for being among the very best in the world.

Very quietly, they've strung together five consecutive wins in all competitions - outscoring opponents 14-1 in that time - and barring a collapse against Juventus later today, will qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League as Group A winners.

And yet, we still hear very little about their elite status.

Perhaps a change to the club crest, to this image, is in order:

6. Paris Saint-Germain (2nd in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: 5th

Still yet to taste defeat in domestic or European competition, Paris Saint-Germain have put their early-season penchant for drawing matches behind them and are collecting three points with aplomb - the Dec. 3 match against Lille notwithstanding.

More importantly - really the only thing that matters - the self-described "God" has returned, and is scoring goals (four in his last three games).

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic back, there's every reason to believe PSG will be sliding into the top-five in the very near future:

7. Manchester City (2nd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 8th

Want an indication of how this season has gone in England? Look at Manchester City.

Somehow, despite much of the talk focusing on how disappointing City has looked, the first big slip of the season by Chelsea has put the Citizens right back to within three points of top spot in the Premier League.

Proclamations that Chelsea will steamroll to the title have dried up. City are once again legitimate contenders.

All of that said, the knee injury suffered by Sergio Aguero in Sunday's 1-0 win over Everton, which will reportedly keep him out for four weeks, is a massive elephant in what was finally becoming an interesting title race.

Aguero, who has scored 30 goals in his last 33 Premier League matches, had solidified himself as the best player on earth not named Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi.

Come back soon, Sergio. Please.

8. Juventus (1st in Serie A)

Previous Rank: 7th

After dropping their first points in seven matches in an awful 0-0 draw against Fiorentina this past weekend, there was some concern that Juventus' run of fantastic form was coming to an end. The performance in Florence was that unsightly.

Heading into a vital Champions League contest with Atletico Madrid later today, the timing could not be worse. Hit the panic button!

Andrea Pirlo, who scored a brilliant, last-second winner in the Turin Derby two weeks ago, has a simple message for any Juventus supporters who may be feeling a bit jittery at the moment.

We don't argue with Pirlo. Or his beard.

9. FC Porto (2nd in Primeira Liga)

Previous Rank: 12th

Already assured of a place in the next stage of the Champions League and yet to lose in league play, the Dragons are the best team in Portugal. You can direct your hate here, Benfica fans. 

I may be putting too much stock in the Champions League results of the two sides, particularly because Benfica's group is more difficult, but in a domestic competition that lacks legitimate depth, that matters.

It's only a matter of time before FC Porto surpass their rivals at the top of the Liga table, and if Jackson Martinez keeps getting help from the likes of Hector Herrera and Yacine Brahimi in the scoring department, that will come sooner rather than later.

10. Roma (2nd in Serie A)

Previous Rank: 11th

Roma blew a golden opportunity to gain ground on Juventus this past weekend, as they watched the Serie A leaders play to a dour 0-0 draw before only mustering a single point against lowly Sassuolo the following day.

In truth, they were lucky to get anything out of the contest at all. 

Trailing 2-0 heading into the 78th minute, only a brace from Adem Ljajic - one a penalty, the other a 92nd-minute goal that had a hint of offside in the build-up - saved the Giallorossi from defeat.

The happiest man inside the Stadio Olimpico come the full-time whistle? Morgan De Sanctis, whose hilarious error looked for some time like it was going to cost his team all three points.

Roma will look to book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League on Wednesday against Manchester City, in a match that will have an enormous impact on the remainder of their season - and subsequently, their ranking on this list.

11. Marseille (1st in Ligue 1)

Previous Rank: 10th

We keep waiting for Marseille to fall and Paris Saint-Germain to take their place atop the Ligue 1 table. We may be waiting until the very end of the season.

With key pass monster Dimitri Payet feeding Andre-Pierre Gignac (pun very much intended), Marseille has won three of their last four matches since losing to PSG, and sit one point above their rivals in the standings.

All of that makes manager Marcelo Bielsa a very happy man:

I am formally submitting a request to change Marseille's official song. This seems appropriate:

12. Southampton (5th in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 9th

It was fun while it lasted. That's the popular sentiment in light of Southampton's three-match losing streak, which has seen the Saints fall to Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United, after a bitterly disappointing 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.

The anti-Southampton mouth-breathers surely enjoyed every last second, eagerly awaiting the chance to tell the world they saw this coming.

But what did they see coming, exactly? That Ronald Koeman would lose two of his three most influential players (Morgan Schneiderlin and Toby Alderweireld) to injury, and the club would continue playing well, only to be unlucky in two of their three losses?

Probably not.

Southampton is still good, you guys. Their depth isn't great, which is a problem, but outside of the very best in the world, you can say that about plenty of teams.

13. Arsenal (6th in Premier League)

Previous Rank: 14th

I know, I know, the loss to Stoke City was an abomination. The film from that match will be used in defensive tutorials, about what not to do, for many years.

But let's not allow one awful performance to cloud our judgement here. Prior to succumbing to football's greatest cliché (not being able to do it on a cold night at Stoke), the Gunners legitimately looked good.

They also lost at home to Manchester United, you say? Let's examine that contest. They outshot the Red Devils 23-12, and did not concede a shot on target until Wayne Rooney scored the eventual game-winner in the 85th minute.

They followed that up with three consecutive wins (all clean sheets), which included matches against Borussia Dortmund and Southampton. 

Also, they have this guy:

(Courtesy: Arsenal)

That sweater alone is worthy of a spot.

14. Manchester United (3rd in Premier League)

Previous Rank: NA

Robin van Persie, who looked for much of the season like he was ageing in dog years, has rediscovered his scoring form of late with three goals in as many matches - culminating in his two-goal performance in Monday's win over Southampton.

The victory, United's fifth consecutive, brought them back to third in the Premier League for the first time since August of 2013. All's well at Old Trafford, right? 

Not quite.

All. Three.

Much like they did against Arsenal, Louis van Gaal's side are benefiting from incredible conversion rates, generating few chances, giving up plenty, and still collecting three points.

It shouldn't last. Regression is coming. Of course, we said that in 2012, too...

15.  Wolfsburg (2nd in Bundesliga)

Previous Rank: 15th

It can get lonely at the top of the Bundesliga table when you aren't Bayern Munich. Fitting, then, that the Wolves are that lone club this season.

Wolfsburg has responded well following a 3-2 loss to Schalke last month, and with Ricardo Rodriguez returning from injury, Dieter Hecking's talented attacking side adds yet another impressive piece to the puzzle.

Their attempt to catch Bayern is obviously going to be futile, but Kevin De Bruyne, Ivan Perisic and company will make it enjoyable along the way.

Dropped Out: Valencia

On the Cusp: Benfica, Sevilla, Napoli, Ajax, Zenit Saint Petersburg